Judicial Appointments

Selecting and appointing judges when vacancies arise on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and the ten Judicial District Courts in Minnesota is one of the Governor’s most important constitutional responsibilities. It’s also the Governor’s duty to appoint the Chief Judge of the Court of Administrative Hearings and the judges of the Tax Court and Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals.

The Walz-Flanagan Administration encourages applications from all those committed to equal justice under the law.

Hear from current judges appointed by Governor Walz on why they decided to apply to the bench and the process they took to get there:

Supreme Court Associate Justice Sarah Hennesy
Court of Appeals Judge Keala Ede
District Court Judge Johnathan Judd
District Court Judge Melissa Houghtaling

Screencap of the webpage "Governor Walz Judicial Appointments by District"

Access Governor Walz's Judicial Appointments by District

Application Process

An attorney may become a judge by being elected or appointed by the Governor. Appointed judges must stand for election district-wide in the next general election that is more than one year after the swearing-in date (Minnesota Constitution Article VI, § 8). An elected judge’s term is six years.

There are ten judicial districts within Minnesota. Judicial district offices oversee the operational functions (human resources, finance, IT, training) for district courts within each judicial district. District Court applicants must reside within the judicial district they apply for at the time of application.

Access the application procedures for District Court Judges.

Access a resource guide to the District Court judicial selection process.

If you have any questions, please contact judicial.selection@state.mn.us.
Current Judicial Vacancies
Commission on Judicial Selection

The Commission on Judicial Selection solicits, considers, and recommends candidates to the Governor for vacancies in the District Courts and the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. The Commission is tasked with identifying candidates with “integrity, maturity, health if job related, judicial temperament, diligence, legal knowledge, ability and experience, and community service.” The Commission is comprised of nine at-large members, including the Chair, and four district members from each of the ten Judicial Districts. The Commission’s members are appointed by the Governor and Minnesota Supreme Court. Access information about the Commission’s members.
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