The Hon. Johnathan R. Judd is a judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Tim Walz on March 1, 2021, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. Barbara R. Hanson.
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.
Prior to his appointment, Judd was the Mayor of the City of Moorhead, a position to which he was elected in 2018. He supplemented his service with work as the Director of Equity and Inclusion at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Before that, he spent time as an assistant public defender for the 7th Judicial District as well as an assistant county attorney for the Clay County Attorney’s Office.
Judd earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from North Dakota State University. He then completed a J.D. at the University of North Dakota School of Law.
After graduating from law school, Judd began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Gerald J. Seibel of the 8th Judicial District Court. Later, he entered into private practice at Judd Law, where he handled criminal, juvenile, and child protection cases.
His memberships have included the North Dakota Federal District Court Criminal Justice Act Panel. He also sat on the Board of Directors of West Central Initiative, Fargo-Moorhead Fercho YMCA, the Scott Tobolt Foundation, and SpudsTV.
Raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Judd is married to Tammi Fortney, a school psychologist for the Moorhead Public School District. They have three children. When not presiding over legal proceedings, he enjoys volunteering as a football coach for F-M Athletics Youth Football.