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 6^th 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.