Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan today announced the appointment of Steve Hanke as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District. Hanke will be replacing the Honorable Michael J. Cuzzo and will be chambered in Two Harbors in Lake County and Grand Marais in Cook County. 

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hanke to the Sixth Judicial District,” said Governor Walz. “His dedication to serving his community and commitment to finding creative solutions to challenging issues makes me confident that he will be an excellent jurist for Lake and Cook counties.” 

“Steve Hanke will be a great addition to the Sixth Judicial District bench,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “His work with Minnesota’s treatment courts and dedication to restorative justice practices makes him uniquely qualified for this position, and I look forward to seeing how he incorporates that experience into his new role.”

Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District encompasses Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties.  

Steve Hanke is an attorney for the City of Duluth, where he practices civil law and prosecutes criminal matters. He is also an adjunct professor in the Human Behavior, Justice, and Diversity Department at the University of Wisconsin – Superior. His community involvement includes volunteering with the Minnesota State Bar Association as a high school mock trial judge and the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association. He also serves as the president of the 11th District Bar Association and as a board member for the Damiano Center and Duluth Area Family YMCA. He earned his B.A. from the University of North Dakota and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota. 

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.