News Item

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Paula D. Vraa as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Ms. Vraa will replace the Honorable Diane M. Hanson, and will be chambered at Shakopee in Scott County. 
 
“Ms. Paula Vraa has had a very distinguished career in private practice and in teaching the law, earning the respect of colleagues in her field,” said Governor Dayton. “I thank Ms. Vraa for agreeing to serve the public in this important role, as District Court Judge for Minnesota’s First Judicial District.”
 
Ms. Vraa is a partner at Larson King, LLP, where she handles all aspects of civil litigation. She is a former adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and has also served as a no-fault arbitrator for AAA. Previously, she was an attorney at Rider Bennett, LLP, and an appellate law clerk to the Honorable Harriet Lansing and the Honorable Jack Davies, Minnesota Court of Appeals. Ms. Vraa earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
 
Ms. Vraa volunteers with the Disability Law Center, the Appeals Self-Help Clinic, and as a volunteer teacher at Junior Achievement.
 
Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley Counties.
 
More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/appointments/judicial-appointments/.