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William H. Leary III

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William H. Leary III
Prior offices:
Minnesota 2nd District Court Position 27

Elections and appointments
Last election
November 8, 2016
Education
Bachelor's
University of St. Thomas, 1971
Law
William Mitchell College of Law, 1979

William H. Leary III was a Second Judicial District judge for Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was appointed to this position by Governor Jesse Ventura on May 20, 2002, and was elected to a full term in 2004.[1] He was re-elected in 2010 and 2016.[2]

Education

Leary received his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in 1971. Prior to receiving his law degree, he worked in Juvenile Corrections for the Hennepin County Home School from 1972 to 1975. He then received his J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law in 1979.[1]

Career

Leary began his legal career in 1976 as a law clerk on the Ramsey County District Court. He then became a clerk on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 1980. Later that year, he joined the firm of Geraghty, O’Loughlin & Kenney, P.A., where he was an attorney and shareholder until his judicial appointment.[1]

Elections

2016

See also: Minnesota local trial court judicial elections, 2016

Minnesota held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election occurred on August 9, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 31, 2016.[3] Incumbent William H. Leary III ran unopposed in the Minnesota 2nd District, Position 27 general election.[2]

Minnesota 2nd District, Position 27, General Election, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png William H. Leary III Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 129,342
Total Votes 129,342
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results Tuesday, November 8, 2016: Results for All Judicial Races," accessed November 9, 2016

2010

Leary was re-elected in 2010. He competed against Connie S. Iversen.

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.[4]

The chief judge of each district court is selected by peer vote for a two-year term.[4]

Judges of all courts are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old.[4][5]

See also

External links

Footnotes