FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 28, 2024
Contact: Claire Lancaster
claire.lancaster@state.mn.us
651-219-2975
Governor Walz Appoints Luis Rangel Morales to Fill First Judicial District Vacancy
[ST.
PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan
today announced the appointment of Luis Rangel Morales as District Court
Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Rangel Morales will
replace the Honorable Shawn M. Moynihan and will be chambered in
Hastings in Dakota County.
“It is my pleasure to appoint Luis Rangel Morales to the First Judicial District,” said Governor Walz.
“Appearing before the court is an intimidating experience for everyone,
but Mr. Rangel Morales has proven throughout his career how empathy and
compassion can ease those anxieties while also ensuring the equitable
administration of justice. This skillset will be invaluable as a judge
for the people of Dakota County.”
“Luis Rangel Morales will be a remarkable judge,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “His
exceptional legal acumen, lived experience, and public defense
background will bring a unique and needed perspective to this important
role. I look forward to seeing all the great work he will do for this
court and community.”
Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley counties.
Luis
Rangel Morales is a staff attorney and director of community engagement
for the Neighborhood Justice Center, where he represents low-income
community members facing criminal charges in Dakota, Ramsey, and
Washington counties. He has also served as defense counsel for the
Ramsey County Veterans Treatment Court and Ramsey County DUI Court.
Rangel Morales’s community involvement includes serving as chair of the
St. Paul Planning Commission and vice-chair of St. Paul’s Board of
Zoning Appeals. He has also volunteered with organizations helping
at-risk youth. Rangel Morales received his B.A. from the University of
St. Thomas and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
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