Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Nancy E. Brasel
2018 - Present
7
Nancy Ellen Brasel is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on February 15, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 28, 2018, by a voice vote.[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to her federal judicial confirmation, Brasel was the nonpartisan judge of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court 29 in Minnesota. Governor Mark Dayton appointed her to this position September 14, 2011.[3]
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (2018-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
Brasel was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota by President Donald Trump (R) on February 15, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Brasel on August 28, 2018, by a voice vote.[2] She received commission on September 13, 2018.[1] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Nancy E. Brasel |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Minnesota |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 194 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: February 15, 2018
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: April 11, 2018
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: May 10, 2018
|
| Confirmed: August 28, 2018
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Brasel on August 28, 2018, by voice vote.[2]
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Brasel had her hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 11, 2018. The committee voted to advance Brasel's nomination to the full Senate on May 10, 2018.[2]
Nomination
Brasel was nominated to replace Judge Ann Montgomery, who assumed senior status on May 31, 2016.
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Brasel well qualified for the position.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court 29 (2011-2018)
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton appointed Brasel to be a nonpartisan judge on Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court 29 on September 14, 2011.[3] Brasel was the nonpartisan judge of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court 29 in Minnesota. She served on the court from 2011 to 2018.
2012 election
- See also: Minnesota judicial elections, 2012
Brasel ran unopposed in the general election November 6, 2012.[5] She received 98.68% of the vote.[6]
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Minnesota District Courts are all chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms. Candidates compete in primaries, from which the top two contestants advance to the general election. 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. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of their birthday month.[7]
The chief judge of each district court is selected by peer vote for a two-year term.[7]
Judges of all courts are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old.[7][8]
Education
Brasel earned her undergraduate degree from Trinity University in San Antonio in 1991. She obtained a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 and received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1996.[1]
Professional career
- 2018-present: Judge, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
- 2011-2018: Judge, Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court 29
- 2008-2011: Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Minnesota
- 1999-2008: Attorney, Greene Espel PLLP
- 1997-1999: Associate, Leonard, Street and Deinard[3][9]
Associations
- 2013-present: Juvenile Justice Center
- 2011-2013: Criminal Court Team
- Former chair of board of directors, Domestic Abuse Project
- Westminster Presbyterian Church[3][9]
About the court
| District of Minnesota |
|---|
| Eighth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 7 |
| Judges: 7 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Patrick Schiltz |
| Active judges: Jerry Blackwell, Nancy E. Brasel, Jeffrey M. Bryan, Katherine M. Menendez, Laura Provinzino, Patrick Schiltz, Eric Tostrud Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is one of 94 United States district courts. It was established by an act of Congress on March 17, 1849. The main headquarters of the court is based in Minneapolis at the Warren E. Berger Federal Building and Courthouse along with other locations in Saint Paul, Duluth, and Fergus Falls. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse and Building.
The District of Minnesota has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The jurisdiction of the District of Minnesota consists of all the counties in the state of Minnesota.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
- United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
- Minnesota District Courts
- Minnesota Fourth Judicial District
- Hennepin County, Minnesota
- Judicial selection in Minnesota
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
- United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
- Minnesota Judicial Branch, "Fourth District: Judges & Referees"
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Brasel, Nancy Ellen," accessed September 14, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1643 — Nancy E. Brasel — The Judiciary," accessed August 29, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Minnesota Judicial Branch, "Nancy Brasel, Philip Carruthers Appointed to Fourth Judicial District Vacancies," September 14, 2011
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State website
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State Election Results
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Minnesota," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Revisor of Statutes, "2006 Minnesota Statutes," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota 2018-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota 4th District Court Position 29 2011-2018 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Patrick Schiltz • Nancy E. Brasel • Jeffrey M. Bryan • Katherine Menendez • Eric Tostrud • Jerry Blackwell • Laura Provinzino | ||
| Senior judges |
John Tunheim • Ann Montgomery • Donovan Frank • Joan Ericksen • David Doty • Donald Alsop • Paul Magnuson • Wilhelmina Wright • Susan Richard Nelson • Michael James Davis (Minnesota) • | ||
| Magistrate judges | Tony N. Leung • Leo Brisbois • Hildy Bowbeer • Becky R. Thorson • Jon Huseby • David Schultz • Elizabeth Cowan Wright • John Docherty • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
James Rosenbaum • Richard Kyle • Diana Murphy • Rensselaer Russell Nelson • William Lochren • Page Morris • Milton Dwight Purdy • Charles Andrew Willard • Wilbur Franklin Booth • William Alexander Cant • John Franklin McGee • Joseph West Molyneaux • John Benjamin Sanborn • Gunnar Hans Nordbye • Matthew Joyce • Robert Cook Bell • George Sullivan (Minnesota) • Edward Devitt • Dennis Donovan • Earl Larson • Miles Lord • Harry MacLaughlin • Philip Neville • Robert Renner • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
James Rosenbaum • John Tunheim • Donald Alsop • Paul Magnuson • Diana Murphy • Gunnar Hans Nordbye • Edward Devitt • Miles Lord • Harry MacLaughlin • | ||
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
