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Thomas F. Haeg
Education:
B.A. St. John’s University 1970.
J.D. St. Louis University School of Law 1973.
Career:
Sole Practitioner 1974 – 1976.
Hennepin County District Court Referee 1976 – 2008 |
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James T. Swenson
Education:
B.A. University of Minnesota 1972.
J.D. University of Minnesota Law School 1976.
Career:
Attorney, Mackall, Crouse & Moore 1976.
Appointed Hennepin County District Court 1995.
Elected 1996 and 2002.
Chief Judge 7/1/2008 – Present |
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I am pursing the office of judge to
continue a career as a dedicated and loyal public
servant in the judicial branch of government. I have
already served as a court referee on the bench for the
last 32 years by faithfully executing my sworn
responsibilities to uphold the law in the Juvenile,
Housing and Family Courts. These courts are
high-volume, people-oriented and contentious. They
also present challenging, complex, civil litigation
actions. The assignments have instilled in me a
heightened awareness for the need to assure justice and
fair play. While serving as the Chief Referee in
Housing Court, an independent study by the State Court
Administrator’s Office found a 92% approval rating by
those appearing before me in my case management. It
cited speedy disposition in Code violations, better
compliance with repair orders, consistency in
decision-making and improved access to the court.
Coupled with one of the lowest rates of rates of
removal, attorneys routinely appearing in my court were
confident in my ability to provide a courtroom to allow
them a fair, courteous and equal access to justice. I
now want to take these 32 years of judicial experience
and knowledge into this next opportunity to serve. I
not only want to be a judge. I want to be the best
judge. |
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I have been a Hennepin
County District Court Judge since 1995, and currently
serve as the Chief Judge. The people who know me best
are my 61 judicial colleagues on the District Court
bench. With this year’s budget cuts still fresh in
their minds, along with the realization that we are not
likely to enter less difficult economic times in the
near term, my colleagues asked me to take the Chief
Judge helm effective July 1, 2008. I was asked to lead
because of the leadership skills that I demonstrated
during two terms as the Presiding Judge in Family Court,
followed by two years as Assistant Chief. I believe
that I have the trust, respect and friendship of staff
and colleagues alike. In 2005, the Hennepin County
District Court chose to bestow on me the Anne V.
Simonett Award as the district court employee of the
year. This award was followed in 2006 by the Minnesota
District Judges Association district judge of the year,
and in 2007 by the Paul H. Chapman Award from the
Foundation for the Improvement of Justice in Atlanta,
Georgia. I am known as a very hard working, innovative
judge.
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