Judge Steven B. Hanke was officially sworn in during a ceremony on the morning of February 2, 2024 at the Lake County Courthouse in Two Harbors. He succeeds Sixth Judicial District Judge Michael Cuzzo.
Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District includes St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, and Lake counties.
Judge Hanke will be chambered in both Two Harbors (Lake County) and Grand Marais (Cook County).
Receptions were held following the ceremony in Two Harbors that morning and Grand Marais in the afternoon.
Judge Hanke was appointed last fall by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Hanke to the Sixth Judicial District,” stated Governor Walz in an October press release announcing Hanke’s appointment. “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.”
Dignitaries on hand to greet the new district court judge in Grand Marais that afternoon included Cook County Commissioners Stacie Hawkins and Ann Sullivan, along with Chairman of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Robert Deschampe.
Members of law enforcement and the broader community also got some time to meet the new judge and his wife, Chelsea, while enjoying coffee and scones from local businesses.
