Pawlenty appoints Hermantown man judge

Dale O. Harris — Harris (right) talks to well wishers in the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth this afternoon after Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed him a vacant Sixth Jurdicial District trial court bench. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)

By news@duluthnewstribune.com

February 01, 2010 at 2:26 PM

Dale O. Harris has been appointed to a Sixth Judicial District trial court bench, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced today. Harris fills the spot left when the district's senior judge Gerald C. Martin retired in October.

Harris has been an assistant St. Louis County Attorney since 2004 and is a reserve judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in Washington, D.C. He was the chief deputy St. Louis County court administrator in Duluth from 2001-2004, a litigation associate attorney with Hanft Fride Law Firm from 2000-2001 and a judge advocate with the U.S. Navy from 1993-2000.

Harris, a Two Harbors native, lives in Hermantown.

Seven lawyers applied for the position, and the field was narrowed to three in mid-December. Other finalists included Garry Bjorklund, also a St. Louis County attorney, and Michael Lien, a private-practice attorney.

Harris family — Zach Harris, 4, holds D.D. the Blue Donkey as his father, Dale Harris, greets well wishers after being named a Sixth Judicial District judge. Also in the picture are Dale Harris' son, Kevin, 11; mother, Gerry Harris, and son A.J., 9. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)