I sit on the Minnesota State District Court, with my chambers located in the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater, about 20 miles east of St. Paul.  As a District Court Judge, I handle a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. My work on the bench is interesting and challenging, but my work off the bench is just as fulfilling. Some examples of other activities include my role as lead judge for the Washington County Childrens Justice Initiative, speaking to classes and civic groups, and performing weddings.

I became a judge in January, 1997 and began performing weddings in 1998. Since then I have officiated at several hundred weddings in almost every setting imaginable. Many judges, myself included, perform weddings that are formal or informal, in homes, parks, chapels, boats, large and small halls, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and courthouses around the State.

Civil ceremonies can and do have religious themes, but offer an attractive alternative for the many couples who do not prefer a church wedding. The flexibility of the setting and theme of a civil ceremony appeals to many people, whether they are getting married for the first time or not.