Walz Appoints Peter Goss to 4th District Bench

Gov. Tim Walz named Pentair associate general counsel Peter Goss as a district judge in Minnesota's 4th Judicial District.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People

Walz Appoints Peter Goss to 4th District Bench

Gov. Tim Walz appointed Peter Goss as a district court judge in Minnesota's 4th Judicial District, filling the vacancy left by Judge Matthew G. Frank. Goss will be chambered in Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

Why it matters

The appointment fills a seat on the bench in Minnesota's largest judicial district, which covers Hennepin County and the Minneapolis area. Goss brings private-sector litigation experience and years of pro bono service to the role.

The appointment fills one district court seat in the 4th Judicial District, succeeding Judge Matthew G. Frank. The extraction does not include caseload figures or the effective start date of the appointment.

The players

Tim Walz

Tim Walz is the Governor of Minnesota, who made the appointment of Peter Goss to the district court bench.

Peter Goss

Peter Goss is a Minnesota attorney and associate general counsel at Pentair who previously served as board chair of the Volunteer Lawyers Network.

Pentair

Pentair is a global water solutions company headquartered in the United Kingdom with major operations in Minnesota, where Goss has served as associate general counsel.

The details

Peter Goss is associate general counsel at Pentair, where he leads the company's representation in lawsuits across the country and around the world. He previously worked as a litigation partner at Blackwell Burke, P.A. and as an attorney at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, and he volunteers with the Hennepin County Housing Court clinic advising low-income tenants and landlords.

November 3, 2026: Walz's appointment of Peter Goss is announced.

Market Landscape

Gubernatorial appointments to fill district court vacancies are the primary route by which Minnesota replaces sitting judges between elections. Goss's move from corporate litigation to the bench reflects a common path for experienced commercial litigators seeking judicial posts.

For Minneapolis and Hennepin County residents, the appointment changes which judge hears cases in the district court. Parties appearing before the 4th Judicial District will see Goss presiding once he takes the bench.

The takeaway

Judicial appointments shape local courtrooms long after the announcement, so following when Goss takes the bench will show how the district's caseload is redistributed. Residents interested in court operations can track assignments through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.