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Karl Procaccini
Karl Procaccini is a judge for Seat 6 of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He assumed office on October 2, 2023. His current term ends on January 7, 2031.
Procaccini ran for re-election for the Seat 6 judge of the Minnesota Supreme Court. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Procaccini completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Procaccini was first appointed to the court by Gov. Tim Walz (D) on August 23, 2023, and sworn in on October 2, 2023, to fill the vacancy left after Natalie Hudson was sworn in as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. [1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Karl Procaccini earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 2005, a master of law degree from The American University in Cairo in 2007, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2010.[2] Procaccini served as a law clerk for Judge Diana Murphy of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 2010 and 2011 and for Chief Judge Michael J. Davis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in 2011 and 2012. He has also worked in private practice. From 2019 to 2023, Procaccini served as General Counsel to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (D). He has also served as an assistant adjunct professor at the William Mitchell College of Law and a visiting assistant and adjunct professor at the St. Thomas School of Law.[2][3]
Elections
2024
See also: Minnesota Supreme Court elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6
Incumbent Karl Procaccini defeated Matthew Hanson in the general election for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karl Procaccini (Nonpartisan)  | 56.6 | 1,322,180 |
 | Matthew Hanson (Nonpartisan) | 43.0 | 1,003,978 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 8,908 | ||
| Total votes: 2,335,066 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Karl Procaccini and Matthew Hanson advanced from the primary for Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Procaccini's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Procaccini in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Karl Procaccini completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Procaccini's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Before joining the Supreme Court, I practiced at a private law firm, served the public as General Counsel to the Governor, and taught at two Minnesota law schools. When I was in private practice, I represented individuals, non-profit organizations, and businesses, and I dedicated hundreds of hours to pro bono work, providing free legal services to Minnesotans who could not afford a lawyer. As General Counsel to the Governor, I managed a team of nine professionals during some of Minnesota’s most difficult times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. I am committed to mentoring the next generation of lawyers, and I have taught law students at the University of St. Thomas and William Mitchell College of Law.
Serving on the Supreme Court is the honor of my career. I take my work seriously, preparing thoroughly for every case that comes before us, and ensuring that everyone feels heard and understood. I approach my role with humility and a deep respect for the rule of law, and I know that our court plays a crucial role in ensuring that justice is accessible to everyone.
Eight former Supreme Court Justices and hundreds of lawyers and community members support my campaign. A list of my supporters is available at www.karlforjustice.com/supporters- Fairness and equal justice. Our courts are legitimate and respected when they are fair to everyone appearing before them. And upholding the rule of law requires even-handed evaluation of each case that reaches the Minnesota Supreme Court. From the moment I swore my oath to uphold the United States and Minnesota Constitutions, I have put aside my personal preferences, beliefs, and interests. My commitment to that oath has been reflected in the opinions I have written and the decisions from which I have recused myself.
- Experience and hard work. Before becoming a Justice, I had a varied legal career, working as a law firm partner representing private clients, serving the people of Minnesota as a government lawyer, and teaching law students. These experiences prepared me for the work of the Supreme Court. Of course, experience is not the only important quality for a Justice. Being a good Justice also means being prepared every day. I have worked hard in every job that I have had. My work as a Justice is no different. I spend many hours preparing for every case and many more on our opinions. I owe that to every Minnesotan, and Minnesotans should expect nothing less.
- Empathy and collaboration. People appear in court during some of the most difficult times in their lives. We must listen respectfully to everyone appearing before us. My hundreds of hours of pro bono service while in private practice, followed by my years of public service, showed me the impact of empathy in the legal profession and the important role judges play in ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. I bring the same commitment to my relationships with my colleagues. Even when we disagree, the Supreme Court is a team that collaboratively serves the people of Minnesota. We each bring different views to the table, and we disagree without being disagreeable.
I cannot discuss how I would rule in particular cases, but I can say that we will continue to hear and decide cases involving the impact of advancing technology on Minnesotans’ rights. New developments in DNA science, mobile communications technology, and artificial intelligence will present new questions that will require us to examine Minnesotans’ privacy interests in new contexts.
I am also an experienced leader. In addition to deciding cases, Associate Justices support the Chief Justice in a variety of administrative roles. I have led bar organizations, including a section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and served in leadership positions at my law firm when I was in private practice. In state government, I managed a team of nine legal and other professionals through some of the most challenging events in recent Minnesota history.
Most fundamentally, I care about making sure our judicial system does right by people. This work is never done, which is why it is my focus every day.
Judge Murphy served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She was a trailblazer in the law and an incredible leader in Minnesota. As Judge Murphy’s law clerk, I observed her meticulous and careful attention to every opinion. I gained an appreciation for the importance of hard work on every case and the need for thoughtful, clear, and well-reasoned judicial opinions. She often reminded her clerks that she was writing her opinions to be read and understood not just by attorneys, but also by the parties and the everyday people whose lives could be affected by them. Judge Murphy passed away in 2018, and I miss her dearly.
When I worked for Judge Davis, he was the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Judge Davis has been a lifelong civil rights champion, and he has been a role model and mentor to me and many in the legal community. Throughout his career, Judge Davis has led initiatives to reduce bias in the justice system and educate the broader community about the work of the courts. His devotion to ensuring equal and meaningful access to our courts inspires me to do the same.
Kathleen Blatz, Former Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Eric Magnuson, Former Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
G. Barry Anderson, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Paul Anderson, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
James Gilbert, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Sam Hanson, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
David Lillehaug, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Helen Meyer, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Alan Page, Former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Appointments
2023
Minnesota governor Tim Walz (D) appointed Karl Procaccini to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Procaccini replaced Justice Natalie Hudson, who ascended to the Chief Justice position on October 2, 2023. Hudson's replacement was Governor Walz's (D) third nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
In Minnesota, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
Interim vacancies on the supreme court are filled via gubernatorial appointment. After serving for at least one year, the appointed judge can run for a full term in the next general election.[4] Other candidates may file to run against them in the election.[5]
State supreme court judicial selection in Minnesota
- See also: Judicial selection in Minnesota
The seven judges of the Minnesota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan general elections to six-year terms. Sitting judges must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms. While party affiliation is not designated on the ballot, incumbency is.[4]
Qualifications
Judges of the supreme court are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of that month.[4]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court is directly chosen by voters in a nonpartisan election. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[4]
Vacancies
Interim vacancies on the supreme court are filled via gubernatorial appointment. After serving for at least one year, the appointed judge can run for a full term in the next general election.[4] Other candidates may file to run against them in the election.[5]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
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Candidate Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 |
Officeholder Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ ‘'Minnesota Judicial Branch, "Gov. Walz names Natalie Hudson Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice," accessed October 3, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ‘'Linkedin, “Karl Procaccini," accessed October 3, 2023
- ↑ Minnesota State Bar Association, "Questionnaire for Judicial Candidates in Statewide Contested Races," accessed September 26, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection," accessed September 4, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Office of the Revisor of Statutes, "Constitution of the State of Minnesota," accessed August 8, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Natalie E. Hudson |
Minnesota Supreme Court Seat 6 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota
State courts:
Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals
State resources:
Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota
| ||||||||||
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State of Minnesota St. Paul (capital) |
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