The Hon. Frederick L. Grunke (Ret.) served as a judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. Grunke was appointed to the bench by former Governor Tim Pawlenty on March 8, 2007. He retired on April 18, 2019, and became a senior judge for the State of Minnesota.
The 7th Judicial District includes Becker County, Benton County, Clay County, Douglas County, Mille Lacs County, Morrison County, Otter Tail County, Stearns County, Todd County, and Wadena County. Over the course of his judicial career, Grunke held assignments with the Stearns County Domestic Violence Partnership. He also sat on the Stearns County Domestic Violence Court and the Stearns County Adult Drug Court.
Prior to his appointment, Grunke was an attorney in private practice at Donohue Rajkowski in St. Cloud. He stayed with the firm for twenty-seven years, trying over 125 jury cases to verdict and arguing dozens of appeals. He supplemented his practice with service as a staff attorney for the St. Cloud Legal Aid’s Volunteer Attorney Program.
Grunke earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Wartburg College in 1975. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota (1978), the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (1978), and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1978).
After graduating from law school, Grunke began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Paul Hoffman of the Minnesota District Court. He served in that capacity until 1979, at which time he entered into private practice.
His memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Stearns-Benton County Bar Association, the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, and the American Arbitration Association. He has also been involved with the State Drug Court Initiative Committee and the St. Cloud Legal Aid Board of Directors.
He is a recipient of the Judicial Award from the Minnesota District Judges Association (2009). He received the award in recognition of his work to develop and publish the Minnesota Jury Instruction Campion Handbook. Grunke also earned the Community Transformation Award from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.
Born in Hudson, Wisconsin, Grunke was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he graduated from Highland Park High School. He and his wife, Ann, have three children. They attend Peace United Church of Christ. When not presiding over legal proceedings, he enjoys gardening, cooking, canoeing, and camping.