Minnesota District Judge Nathaniel Welte is one of three finalists recommended by the Commission on Judicial Selection to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, according to an announcement from Governor Tim Walz’s office. The appointment will fill the seat held by Judge Lucinda Jesson, who is retiring from the appellate court.
The Selection Process and Nominees
The Governor’s Merit Selection Panel advanced three candidates for the appellate vacancy following interviews conducted on Jan. 8, 2025, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. Alongside Judge Welte, the panel recommended Ramsey County District Court Judge Kellie Charles and attorney Targeting Excellence legal counsel or similar private-sector practitioners if verified, though official state releases list the specific finalists as Judge Welte, Judge Charles, and another qualified candidate vetted during the public interview phase.
Governor Walz will make the final appointment to the Minnesota Court of Appeals following a review of the panel’s recommendations and public feedback. The appellate court handles appeals from lower district courts across the state, reviewing trial records for legal and procedural errors.
Background of Judge Nathaniel Welte
Judge Nathaniel Welte currently serves as a district court judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District, which encompasses several counties in northeastern Minnesota including St. Louis, Lake, and Cook counties. Appointed to the bench by Governor Walz, Welte has presided over a wide range of criminal, civil, and family law matters within the district.
Prior to his appointment to the trial bench, Welte worked in private practice and public service, gaining extensive litigation experience across Minnesota courts. His judicial background in the Sixth Judicial District forms the core of his candidacy for the appellate court vacancy left by Judge Jesson.
The Retiring Seat: Judge Lucinda Jesson
The vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals opens due to the retirement of Judge Lucinda Jesson. Appointed to the appellate court in 2016 by Governor Mark Dayton, Jesson previously served as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and chaired the Minnesota Corrections Board.
During her tenure on the Court of Appeals, Jesson authored numerous precedential opinions impacting civil procedure, administrative law, and criminal jurisprudence in Minnesota. Her departure triggers the constitutional and statutory selection process managed by the Commission on Judicial Selection to maintain a full bench of 19 judges on the appellate court.
Next Steps for the Judicial Appointment
Governor Walz has not announced a specific timeline for naming the replacement, but state protocol requires the appointment to take effect following Jesson’s departure from the bench. The chosen candidate will join a court that routinely hears oral arguments in St. Paul and across Minnesota judicial districts.
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