DULUTH — One of Northeastern Minnesota’s longest-tenured judges plans to step down at the end of his term, triggering a rare election with no incumbent this fall.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Dale Harris, who is chambered at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth, confirmed to the News Tribune this week that he will not seek another term.
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“It just feels like the right time,” he said. “You need energy, creativity and patience to do this job, and I can tell that I don’t have those qualities at the same levels I did a few years ago. This is one party that I would rather leave a little early than stay too late.”
Harris, 56, of Hermantown, was appointed to the bench by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2010, and was elected to six-year terms in 2012 and 2018. His tenure will expire in early January.
As judges typically retire mid-term, vacancies are almost always filled by the governor, rather than voters.
The region last saw a contested judicial election in 2010, when Kenneth Sandvik retired and Michael Cuzzo was elected to replace him at Lake and Cook county courthouses.
In Duluth, a similar opening last occurred in 1998, when Mark Munger was voted into the seat left open by the retirement of Galen Wilson.
Harris denied rumors that he may have had politics or other motivations in mind by allowing citizens, and not DFL Gov. Tim Walz, to pick his replacement.
“The main reason is just timing,” he said. “I did not feel right about seeking election to another six-year term and then retiring a couple months into it. Leaving at the end of a term also means there will not be a lengthy vacancy on the Duluth bench, so hopefully, that makes the transition a little easier on my colleagues.”
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Before his appointment, Harris served in the civil division of the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, as a deputy court administrator and in private practice at a Duluth firm.
But his roots are in the military, having served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Navy from 1993-2000 and the Navy Reserve from 2000-16. He filled several legal roles in the service, from trying courts-martial to handling appeals, including a four-year stint as a judge on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
As a district judge, Harris may be best known for his role in creating and presiding over the South St. Louis County Veterans Treatment Court, a team-based initiative that helps connect veterans with an array of services when they enter the criminal justice system.
The program, which has successfully graduated 29 area residents, celebrated its 10th anniversary Monday, as Harris announced he would pass the baton to Judge Nicole Hopps in July.
For many years, he has also penned a regular column in the pages of the News Tribune's Opinion section, seeking to inform the public of various issues and procedures in the judicial system.
A 1985 graduate of Duluth East High School, Harris earned degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1990 and Hamline University School of Law in 1993.
He said he hopes to stay on as a part-time senior judge in the state but is otherwise looking forward to making up for lost time with family.
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“The short answer is I want to do all the things I haven’t had enough time to do for the past 30 years,” Harris said. “It’s a long list. Plus, my four kids are all grown and currently living in three different time zones, so my wife and I would like to see a little more of them than we currently do.”
Any candidates seeking to replace Harris must file for office between May 21 and June 4. A primary, if necessary, will be held Aug. 13 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
The 6th District includes St. Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties. Candidates must live in the district and appear on the ballot in all four counties.
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