David Stras

David Ryan Stras (born 1974) is an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Stras's term began on July 1, 2010, and he was sworn in on July 12, 2010. Stras was a professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2004 to 2010, teaching and writing in the areas of federal courts and jurisdiction, constitutional law, criminal law, and law and politics.^[1] He also served as co-director of the Institute for Law and Politics.

Stras has contributed to research on such topics as judicial pensions and life tenure for judges. He has also studied judicial appointments and the politics of courts. Prior to his appointment, he was a frequent guest on legal topics at Minnesota Public Radio.

Education

Stras received a B.A. with highest honors and an M.B.A. from the University of Kansas. In 1999 he earned a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Criminal Procedure Edition of the Kansas Law Review. He clerked on two federal courts of appeal, for Judges Melvin Brunetti on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and J. Michael Luttig on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.^[2]

Stras then worked at the D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood for a year, after which he clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court.^[2]

Personal life

Through his father, Stras is related to Holocaust survivors from Hungary and Germany.^[3] He is believed to be the first Jewish Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

References

External links

• Tribute, Distinguished Scholar, Dedicated Teacher, and now Justice: David R. Stras
• Published Articles on Various Legal Topics.
• Associate Justice David R. Stras Profile - Minnesota Supreme Court
• 2012 Campaign Website