Minnesota Fourth Judicial District
From Ballotpedia
Court
Minnesota Fourth Judicial District
The Minnesota Fourth Judicial District is one of ten judicial districts in Minnesota. It encompasses Hennepin County.
The Fourth Judicial District is Minnesota's largest trial court. It receives about 800,000 cases each year, while the Minnesota District Courts altogether hear about 2 million cases a year. The court had 62 judges, 16 referees and more than 550 staff members.[1][2]
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2007 - Present |
||
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
November 29, 2023 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2019 - Present |
||
|
September 13, 2021 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2007 - Present |
||
|
2014 - Present |
||
|
2012 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
2011 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
2012 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
November 15, 2019 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
2018 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
Gov. Tim Pawlenty |
||
|
Gov. Pawlenty |
||
|
March 8, 2021 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
May 1, 2023 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Gov. Tim Pawlenty |
||
|
2020 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
Gov. Tim Pawlenty |
||
|
May 1, 2023 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Tim Walz |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
2022 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
2020 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
June 30, 2020 - Present |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
2020 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Gov. Tim Pawlenty |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
Gov. Tim Pawlenty |
||
|
June 2, 2021 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
March 8, 2021 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
2022 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
Tim Walz |
||
|
November 29, 2023 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2012 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
2019 - Present |
Mark Dayton |
|
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
September 1, 2021 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
November 29, 2023 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2006 - Present |
||
|
2014 - Present |
||
|
Mark Dayton |
||
|
November 29, 2022 - Present |
Tim Walz |
|
|
2014 - Present |
See also
External links
Elections
- See also: Minnesota judicial elections
Minnesota is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Minnesota, click here.
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2025
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2024
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2023
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2022
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2021
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2020
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2019
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2017
- Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- Minnesota judicial elections, 2014
- Minnesota judicial elections, 2012
- Minnesota judicial elections, 2010
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Minnesota District Courts are all chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms. Candidates compete in primaries, from which the top two contestants advance to the general election. Sitting judges must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms. While party affiliation is not designated on the ballot, incumbency is. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of their birthday month.[3]
The chief judge of each district court is selected by peer vote for a two-year term.[3]
Judges of all courts are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old.[3][4]
Election rules
Primary election
In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates (for each seat) who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election. If no more than two candidates filed to run for each seat, their names do not appear on the primary ballot, but they advance directly to the general election.[5]
Filing period
The filing period for offices contested in the November general election lasts for two weeks from the end of May until the beginning of June. Candidates file with either the county auditor of the county in which they reside or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Candidates must either pay a filing fee or submit a petition in place of the fee.[6]
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Judicial Branch, "About the Fourth Judicial District," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Judicial Branch, "District Courts," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Minnesota," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Revisor of Statutes, "2006 Minnesota Statutes," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ 2016 Minnesota Election Laws, "204D.07 PLACING NAMES ON BALLOTS," accessed August 4, 2016
- ↑ Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Guide for Major Party or Nonpartisan Candidates," accessed July 2, 2014