Public Notice Detail
Hennepin County Appoints New Leadership in Juvenile Court
Posted: Friday, May 19, 2000
The Honorable Kevin S. Burke and the Honorable Lucy Ann Wieland made the appointment as the incoming Chief Judge and Assistant Chief Judge (respectively) of the Fourth Judicial District.
“Prior to our election, Judge Wieland and I made it very clear that our intent is to focus more on the needs of kids and families in Hennepin County,” said Judge Burke. “We both agree that Robert Blaeser is uniquely poised to help achieve that goal.”
“We are fortunate to have a group of strong, committed juvenile judges,” said Judge Blaeser. “Because of the bench support, we have opportunities to look at new and more effective ways to serve our children and families.”
Judge Blaeser has served on the Fourth Judicial District’s bench since 1995 and in Hennepin County’s Juvenile Court since January 1997. His commitment to improving the lives of children and families in the child protection system is evident in a Hennepin County program he pioneered in July 1999 called “Family Group Conferencing.” This approach brings family members into the case planning process and ensures each has an active role in deciding the family’s future. The program has been shown to reinforce responsibility for children, unite families, reduce children’s trauma and provide a more positive working relationship for participants.
Judge Blaeser earned his B.A. from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota and his law degree from the University of Minnesota. Prior to his judicial appointment, Blaeser was in private practice, serving as CEO of his own law firm. Blaeser, a member of the White Earth Band of the Chippewa, has also served as an associate judge for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribal Court of Appeals and is a founding member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association. In 1995, Judge Blaeser became the first Native American district court judge in the Twin Cities and on Aug. 1, 2000 he will become the state’s first Native American to lead Juvenile Court.
Judge Blaeser has taken an active role in a variety of important judicial issues. He has served on three prominent Supreme Court committees and task forces, including the Task Force on Racial Bias, the Committee for Multicultural Diversity and Fairness, and the Foster Care and Adoption Task Force. In February, Judge Blaeser was named one of Minneapolis - St. Paul Magazine’s “100 People to Watch.”
Judge Blaeser succeeds the Honorable Pamela G. Alexander for the two-year post.