Walz appoints Kelly Staples as new Dakota County judge

Minnesota Gov Tim Walz has appointed Kelly Staples as a Dakota County District Court judge to fill a vacancy in the First Judicial District On April Gov Tim Walz informed the appointment of Kelly Staples as District Court Judge in Minnesota s First Judicial District Staples will replace the Honorable David L Knutson and will be chambered in Hastings in Dakota County Courtesy of the Office of Gov Tim Walz and Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan Staples will replace Judge David L Knutson and will be chambered in Hastings It is my privilege to appoint Kelly Staples to the Dakota County bench Walz explained in a press release Friday Her wealth of family law experience coupled with her ability to help clients approach their the majority challenging moments gives me the confidence that she will be a great judge Minnesota s First Judicial District consists of Carver Dakota Goodhue Le Sueur McLeod Scott and Sibley counties Staples is a court-appointed counsel in paternity child endorsement and civil commitment matters and a volunteer conciliation court referee in Dakota County In addition she has a private family law practice in West St Paul focusing on child custody and domestic abuse cases She also serves on the board of directors for legal Assistance of Dakota County judges high school mock trials participants at legal self-help clinics through Communities and supports her children s various sessions the press release noted Staples is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and William Mitchell College of Law Related Articles Farmington man repeatedly stabbed his wife amid cheating accusations charges say Eagan native Eva Erickson thanks her hockey legs for Survivor wins Inver Grove Heights mom spared jail after -year-old son shot brother with her gun Burnsville graduation still scheduled on major Islamic holiday despite objections Lakeville Area Schools OKs settlement on Black Lives Matter posters