MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Governor Tim Walz on Wednesday promoted Natalie Hudson to chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, making her the first black person to lead it.
Hudson was appointed deputy judge in 2015 by the then government. Mark Dayton, after serving thirteen years as a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She will lead the Supreme Court when current Chief Justice Lorie Gildea retires in October.
Judge Hudson is one of the most experienced lawyers in our state. She has a strong reputation as a leader and consensus builder,” Walz said in a statement. “I am confident she will bring forward a vision that promotes fairness and upholds the dignity of all Minnesotans.”
“This is a huge responsibility that I approach with humility and determination, seeking to continue the work of my predecessors in managing one of the best state courts in the country, always seeking to provide the most accessible and quality legal services for the citizens of Minnesota,” Hudson said in the same statement.
Waltz appointed Karl Procaccini, his former general counsel, to fill Hudson’s place as associate judge.
Procaccini is currently a visiting professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Previously, he served as a top attorney in the governor’s office, where his duties included the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
