Sixth Judicial District race in Minnesota
(Pexels)
Out of four seats up for election in the Sixth Judicial District in Minnesota, only one was contested. The results for Minnesota 6th District Court Position 6 are in, with Shawn Reed receiving 62,968 of votes. With 54% of votes, Shawn Reed will replace incumbent Judge Dale Harris, who is retiring.
The Sixth Judicial District includes St. Louis, Carlton, Lake, and Cook Counties. Michelle M. Anderson ran unopposed for seat five, Nicole L. Hopps ran unopposed for seat 12, and Jill A. Eichenwald ran unopposed for seat 16.
Judge Nicole L. Hopps was appointed by Governor Tim Walz on July 19, 2023, after Judge Sally Tarnowski died unexpectedly in March. Judge Michelle M. Anderson was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton on September 6, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of Judge James B. Florey. Judge Jill Eichenwald was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton on November 13, 2015, after the retirement of Judge John E. DeSanto.
The race between Shawn Reed and Gunnar B. Johnson is the first judicial race in Northeastern Minnesota without an incumbent since 2010. It is also the first judicial race at the Duluth courthouse without an incumbent since 1998.
About Shawn Reed
Shawn Reed was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and went to Esko High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law. Reed currently resides in Midway Township and is an attorney and shareholder with Bray & Reed, Ltd.
Reed is a member of the Governance Board of Directors and a past president of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northland. He also is on the board of directors and past president for the Paul Staudenmaier Foundation for the Boys and Girls Club of Duluth, Esko Educational Foundation, and Floy, Gilman, Scheidler Foundation, Inc.
Reed has 27 years of experience including work as a prosecuting attorney, a criminal defense attorney, a family law attorney, and a civil law attorney.
About Gunnar B. Johnson
Gunnar B. Johnson was born in Rochester, Michigan, and went to Lourdes High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from UMD and a J.D. from American University College of Law. Johnson currently resides in Gnesen Township and is the Hermantown city attorney as well as the attorney for the Cloquet Area Fire District and a number of townships in St. Louis and Carlton Counties.
Johnson is a volunteer attorney for the Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (Justice North) and has been a member and chair of the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports Legal Commission for over 20 years.
Johnson has 30 years of experience as an attorney in the Sixth Judicial District. He has practiced in Duluth as the City Attorney and has experience in private practice on the Iron Range with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.