Magistrate judges fulfill crucial roles in the Minnesota federal court family, and the district anticipates magistrate judge vacancies in the coming months and years. This webinar, which was held on December 13, 2021, featured federal judges, practitioners, and former members of the District of Minnesota’s magistrate-judge merit selection panels, as they discuss the diverse work of a magistrate judge and demystify the application and selection process.

Practitioner Tara Norgard moderated a panel discussion featuring Judge John Tunheim, Judge Susan Richard Nelson, Magistrate Judge Leo Brisbois, Then-Magistrate Judge Kate Menendez, and Magistrate Judge John Docherty, as well as Chief Federal Public Defender Katherian Roe and W. Anders Folk, former Acting United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. The Zoom event featured a two-part panel discussion, with the first portion focused upon the job duties of a federal magistrate judge and the second focusing upon the application and selection process.

Materials relating to the Magistrate Judge role that were assembled for this virtual event can be found here.

District of Minnesota Magistrate Judge Interview Topics