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Judge Dale O. Harris

St. Louis County - Duluth Courthouse
Sixth Judicial District
(218) 221-7560

Chambers Phone: (218) 221-7685

Sixth Judicial District Judicial Officers

Judge Dale O. Harris

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty on Mar. 8, 2010. Elected in 2012 and 2018. Current term expires January 2025.

Education:

  • J.D., cum laude, Hamline University School of Law, 1993
  • B.M.E., University of Minnesota, 1990

Employment:

  • Judge - Sixth Judicial District (Duluth), 2010-present
  • Assistant St. Louis County Attorney – Civil Division, 2004-10
  • Chief Deputy Court Administrator – St. Louis County, 2001-04
  • Attorney – Hanft, Fride, P.A., 2000-01
  • Judge Advocate – U.S. Navy, 1993-2000; U.S. Navy Reserve 2000-16

Professional Memberships:

  • Minnesota District Judges Association (MDJA) (2010-present)
  • 11th District Bar Association (1993-present)
    • Vice-President (2009-10)
    • Secretary (2008-09)
    • Board of Directors (2006-08)
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (1993-present)
    • State Convention Planning Committee (2009)
  • American Bar Association (ABA) (2000-15)
    • Delegate, Conference of State Trial Judges, ABA National Convention (2012)
  • Minnesota County Attorneys Association (2004-10)
    • Peace Officer Training Manual Committee (2007-08)
  • Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (2000-01)
  • Judge Advocates Association (1997-2000)

Professional and Community Activities:

  • MDJA Elections Committee (2021-present)
  • MDJA 6th District Alternate Rep (2014-present)
  • Member, Sixth District eCourt Steering Committee (2011-present)
  • Coach, Hermantown Youth Basketball (2010-13)
  • Coach, Salvation Army, Rookie Basketball League (2009-11)
  • Coach, Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association (2009)
  • Board of Elders, Peace in Christ Lutheran Church (2003-07)
  • Coach, Hermantown Amateur Hockey Association (2005-06)
  • Alumni Board, Hamline University School of Law (2003-05)
  • Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 1107, Springfield, Virginia (1997-98)
  • Bremerton High School Tutoring Program, Bremerton, Wash. (1995-96)

Lecturing and Teaching Experience:

  • New Judge Orientation “Nuts and Bolts of Bail” (2018-present)
  • New Judge Orientation Trial Skills Program (2020-present)
  • MDJA Fall Conference “Basics of Military Law” (2017)
  • Great Lakes Collaborative Crisis Intervention Training “Veterans in the Legal System” (2016-present)
  • Adjunct faculty, Fond-du-Lac Tribal Community College (2007-present), “Civil Liability for Law Enforcement”
  • Continuing Legal Education (CLE), 2009 Minnesota State Bar Convention, “Minnesota Open Meeting Law”
  • CLE, 2008 Minnesota State Bar Convention, “Minnesota Government Data Practices Act”
  • Annual training on liability and new laws, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, 2005-09
  • Data practices for Probation, 2008
  • Data practices for Public Health and Human Services, 2008
  • Data practices for Corrections (Northeast Regional Corrections Center), 2009
  • Data practices for St. Louis County department heads, 2008
  • Court Security Officer training, 2007
  • Confidentiality for Law Enforcement Chaplains, 2005
  • Sheriff Background Investigations, 2005
  • CLE “Non-Compete Clauses and Employment Agreements,” 2001 

Publications:

“Civil Liability for Law Enforcement,” Peace Officer Training Manual, Minnesota County Attorneys Association (2008) 

Military Service:

U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (1993-2000)

  • Trial Attorney, Bremerton, Wash. (1994-97)
  • Appellate Attorney, Washington, D.C. (1997-2000)

U.S. Navy Reserve (2000-16)

  • Commanding Officer, Appellate Review, Des Moines, IA (2012-14)
  • Appellate Attorney (2000-02; 2014-16)
  • Court Commissioner (2002-06)
  • Appellate Attorney/Executive Officer (2007-08)
  • Judge, Navy-Marine Corps Ct. of Criminal Appeals (2009-12)

Additional Information:

Judge Harris and his wife, Barbara, have four children: Kevin, Andrew, Josephine, and Zachary.