Fair
Impartial
Experienced

Judge Stacy Stennes was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the Ramsey County District Court after a merit selection process in 2024. Judge Stennes is running to retain the seat in 2026.   

 

Since her appointment, Judge Stennes has capably served the people of Minnesota. She started her judicial service in the court's civil division where she presided over a wide variety of matters and became one of the District's most knowledgeable jurists on recent changes in Minnesota housing law. She recently moved to the criminal division where she conducts hearings related to Misdemeanors, Gross Misdemeanors, and Felony cases.

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​​Judge Stennes believes that justice is more than a result: it’s a process, and the opportunity for all parties to be heard is one of its central tenets. Treating others with respect and dignity, listening, taking time to explain complex matters, and being thorough and fair are values that underpin Judge Stennes' work. 

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Originally from rural Wisconsin, Judge Stennes moved to Minnesota to attend the College of Saint Benedict. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she spent 15 years in private practice where she handled complex civil litigation matters involving negligence, medical malpractice, and defective products, and did pro bono work representing children in child protection matters. As an attorney, Judge Stennes was admitted to practice in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and various federal and tribal courts.

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Judge Stennes received  local and national recognition for her work as an attorney including induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates. A state bar leader, she served as President of the Minnesota Association for Justice, an organization of 950 trial lawyers dedicated to strengthening our civil justice system. She has served on various committees of the Ramsey County Bar Association, on the Minnesota State Bar Association Assembly, is a Fellow of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation, and is active in Minnesota Women Lawyers. She has taught legal research and writing at the University of Minnesota Law School.

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Outside of the courtroom, Judge Stennes has served the community as a volunteer with Girl Scouts River Valleys and Open Arms of Minnesota, as a high school mock trial coach, and as a mentor at the University of St. Thomas Law School. She lives in St. Paul with her husband, two children, and dog.