Katherine M. Menendez

Katherine M. Menendez
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 21, 2021
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byJoan N. Ericksen
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
In office
April 28, 2016 – December 21, 2021
Preceded byJeffrey J. Keyes
Succeeded byDouglas L. Micko
Personal details
Born1971 (age 54–55)
Emporia, Kansas, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Chicago (AB)
New York University (JD)

Katherine Marie Menendez (born 1971)[1] is an American attorney serving since 2021 as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. From 2016 to 2021, she served as a magistrate judge of the same court.

Early life and education

Menendez was born in Emporia, Kansas. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1993 and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University in 1997.[2]

Career

From 1996 to 1997, Menendez served as a law clerk for Judge Samuel James Ervin III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She became an assistant federal defender in 1999 and served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Minnesota until 2016.[3]

United States magistrate judge

In March 2016, Menendez was selected as a United States magistrate judge to replace retiring Judge Jeffrey J. Keyes.[4][5] She was sworn in on April 28.[6] Her service as a magistrate terminated upon her elevation as a district court judge.

District court service

On September 8, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Menendez to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. On September 20, her nomination was sent to the Senate. Biden nominated Menendez to the seat vacated by Judge Joan N. Ericksen, who assumed senior status on October 15, 2019.[7] On November 3, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[8] On December 2, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 15–7 vote.[9] On December 17, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 49–21 vote.[10] On December 18, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–21 vote.[11] She received her judicial commission on December 21, 2021.[12]

Notable cases

On March 31, 2023, Menendez struck down Minnesota age limits on carrying firearms.[13] On April 24, 2023, following an emergency motion filed by Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Jacobson and various county sheriffs, Menendez granted a stay on the order, effectively putting a pause on the ruling.[14][15] The Minnesota Attorney General appealed the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and on July 16, 2024, it affirmed her ruling.[16][17]

On January 26, 2026, Menendez heard oral arguments in a case brought by Minnesota against the United States to curtail ICE operations in the state. The case was heard after Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents on January 24 while protesting ICE activities in Minnesota. While acknowledging their use of racial profiling and excessive force, Menendez ruled that ICE operations may continue at full speed in Minnesota.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "KATHERINE M. MENENDEZ SELECTED TO SERVE AS NEXT U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE". Red Lake Nation News. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  3. ^ "President Biden Names Seventh Round of Judicial Nominees". The White House. 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  4. ^ Mosedale, Mike (March 3, 2016). "Federal defender Menendez tabbed as magistrate". Minnesota Lawyer. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Jeffrey J. Keyes". United States Courts. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  6. ^ "Katherine Marie Menendez". United States Courts. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  7. ^ "Nominations and Withdrawal Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. September 20, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. October 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 2, 2021" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  10. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Katherine Marie Menendez to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota)". United States Senate. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Katherine Marie Menendez, of Minnesota, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota)". United States Senate. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Katherine M. Menendez at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  13. ^ "Federal judge strikes down Minnesota's age requirement for gun permits". KSTP. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Judge orders hold on gun permits for 18-to-20-year-olds". MPR News. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  15. ^ "Case No. 21-cv-1348 (KMM/LIB)" (PDF). UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  16. ^ "Kristin Worth v. Bob Jacobson" (PDF). ecf.ca8.uscourts.gov. July 16, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "Federal appeals court affirms that Minnesota's age limit on permit to carry is unconstitutional". kstp.com. July 16, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Court holding hearings in Minnesota lawsuits seeking to curb federal agents". The Washington Post. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
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