[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Greta Smolnisky as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Ms. Smolnisky will be replacing the Honorable Jay D. Carlson and will be chambered in Moorhead in Clay County.

“Ms. Smolnisky’s background serving as a judicial officer and a longtime public defender has prepared her well for this important position in Clay County,” said Governor Walz. “She understands the lived experiences of the people appearing before the court, and she will work every day to ensure that justice is administered fairly and impartially for all that come before her.”

Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District encompasses Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena.

About Greta Smolnisky:

Ms. Smolnisky is a district court referee in the Seventh Judicial District, where she handles the family court calendar. She was previously an assistant public defender in the Seventh and Eighth Judicial Districts for over a decade, and she was also an attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. Ms. Smolnisky also spent time in private practice, where she represented clients in immigration, family law, civil commitment, appellate, and probate matters. Her community involvement includes serving as a trainer for the State Public Defender Sentencing Advocacy Program and volunteering as a judge for the Minnesota State Bar Association Mock Trial competition. Ms. Smolnisky earned her B.A. from Concordia College and J.D. from Hamline University School of Law.

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage .