Robert Sheran, a former chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, died Wednesday night. He was 96.

He was appointed chief justice in 1973 by Gov. Wendell Anderson and served until 1981.

Earlier, he’d been appointed an associate justice of the state Supreme Court by Gov. Elmer L. Andersen, serving on the court in that capacity from 1963 to 1970.

He also served as an FBI special agent in the 1940s, according to his legislative biography.

In 2007, Sheran was included in a listing of the 100 most influential attorneys in state history by Minnesota Law and Politics. That article notes:

During Sheran’s tenure, the court adopted the Minnesota Rules of Evidence and established a mandatory continuing legal education requirement.

Sheran served four years in the state House representing Blue Earth County from 1947-1950, identifying with conservative caucus in those days when legislative elections were non-partisan.

His daughter Kathy Sheran is a DFL state Senator from Mankato.

Visitation for Sheran will be 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Washburn-McReavy, 5000 W. 50th St., Edina. Church visitation will be Monday at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina.