Governor Walz Appointed Two District Court Judges

Jeremy Blackwelder and Aaron Zurek have been appointed to serve in Minnesota's 5th Judicial District.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in People

Governor Walz Appointed Two District Court Judges

Live Poll

Do you trust the process by which local judges are appointed in your community?

Governor Tim Walz announced the appointments of Jeremy Blackwelder and Aaron Zurek as district court judges in Minnesota. The new judges will fill existing vacancies in the 5th Judicial District.

Why it matters

These appointments fill judicial vacancies in the 5th Judicial District, ensuring that the court system continues to operate with a full complement of judges across southwest Minnesota.

The 5th Judicial District encompasses 15 counties in southwest Minnesota. These judges are filling vacancies previously held by Judge Tricia B. Zimmer and Judge Gregory J. Anderson.

The players

Tim Walz

Tim Walz is the Governor of Minnesota who holds the executive authority to appoint district court judges.

Jeremy Blackwelder

Jeremy Blackwelder is an assistant public defender in the 5th Judicial District who has been appointed to the district court.

Aaron Zurek

Aaron Zurek serves as the chief public defender of the 5th Judicial District and has been selected for a district court judgeship.

Tricia B. Zimmer

Tricia B. Zimmer is a judge whose seat in the 5th Judicial District is being filled by the new appointment.

Gregory J. Anderson

Gregory J. Anderson is a judge who previously held one of the district court seats in the 5th Judicial District.

The details

Jeremy Blackwelder, currently an assistant public defender, will step into the seat formerly held by Judge Tricia B. Zimmer. Aaron Zurek, the chief public defender for the district, will replace Judge Gregory J. Anderson in a role chambered in Mankato, while the other seat is chambered in Ivanhoe and Marshall.

Governor Walz announced the judicial appointments on September 23, 2026.

Market Landscape

These appointments follow the standard procedural framework established for filling judicial vacancies within the Minnesota state court system. This transition maintains the staffing continuity necessary for the 5th Judicial District to manage its caseload across the 15-county region.

Residents of the 15 counties in the 5th Judicial District can expect continued judicial operations as the new judges take their positions. These changes ensure that court proceedings in locations like Mankato, Ivanhoe, and Marshall remain staffed by presiding judges.

The takeaway

The appointment of experienced public defenders to the bench often brings a specific perspective on courtroom procedures and case management to the local judiciary. Citizens in the affected counties should see stable access to court services as the transition to the new judges takes effect.