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Minnesota Judicial Council

The Minnesota Judicial Council is the administrative policy-making authority for the Minnesota Judicial Branch. The purpose of the Council is to govern the Judicial Branch through the establishment and monitoring of administrative policies designed to achieve an accessible, fair and, timely system of justice statewide, and to ensure that the Judicial Branch functions as an independent and accountable branch of government.

Policies - Minnesota Judicial Council

Membership

The Minnesota Judicial Council is composed of 25 members. Fourteen are members by virtue of their office:
  • The Chief Justice, who serves as Chair
  • The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
  • The Chief Judges of the Judicial Districts
  • The Minnesota District Judges Association President
  • The State Court Administrator (non-voting member)
Eleven members are appointed. Terms for appointed members are three years:
  • One Associate Justice, appointed by the Chief Justice
  • Five at-large judges appointed by the Chief Justice, three of whom must be district court judges
  • One at-large appointment from within the Judicial Branch, by the Chief Justice (non-voting member)
  • Three Judicial District Administrators chosen by the Judicial District Administrators (non-voting member)
  • One Court Administrator chosen by the Court Administrators (non-voting member)
NamePositionTerm Ends
Natalie Hudson (Chair), Supreme Court
Ex officio - Chief Justice-
Jennifer Frisch, Court of Appeals
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Christopher Jon Lehmann, First District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Sara Grewing, Second District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Christine Long, Third District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Kerry Meyer, Fourth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Darci Bentz, Fifth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Leslie Beiers, Sixth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Michael Fritz, Seventh District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Stephanie Beckman, Eighth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Jana Austad, Ninth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Elizabeth Strand, Tenth District
Ex officio - Chief Judge-
Mary Mahler, Seventh District
Ex officio - MDJA President-
Jeffrey Shorba, State Court Administration
Ex officio - State Court Administrator-
Anne McKeig, Supreme Court
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2027
Michelle Lawson, Seventh District
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2026
Judge Juan Hoyos, Fourth District
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2028
David Brown (Vice Chair), Second District
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2027
Juanita Freeman, Tenth District
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2026
JaPaul Harris, Court of Appeals
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2027
Dawn Torgerson, Deputy State Court Administrator
Appointed by Chief JusticeJune 30, 2028
Sara Gonsalves, Fourth District
Appointed by District AdministratorsJune 30, 2028
Shelley Ellefson, Third District
Appointed by District AdministratorsJune 30, 2026
Sarah Lindahl-Pfieffer, Tenth District
Appointed by District AdministratorsJune 30, 2027
Hans Holland, Olmsted County
Appointed by Court AdministratorsJune 30, 2026

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State Law Library

Room G25
Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

(651) 297-7651

mn.gov/law-library