Hon. Tad V. Jude (Ret.) was a judge for the 10th Judicial District Court of Minnesota in Washington County. He joined the bench in 2010. Jude retired on December 31, 2021.
The 10th Judicial District includes Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties.
Prior to beginning his judicial career, he was an attorney for the Special Compensation Fund (1995 to 2010), Trimble & Associates (1993 to 1994), Magsam & Hardwig (1983 to 1989), and Jude & Gueningsman (1978 to 1982).
Jude also spent time as a member of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners (1989 to 1993) and served in both the Minnesota Senate (1983 to 1989) and the Minnesota House of Representatives (1973 to 1983). While a legislator, he was chair of the Senate Civil Law Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.
Jude received a B.A. in political science from the University of St. Thomas in 1972. He went on to complete a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 1977.
He was involved with the Wright County Historical Society, the Agricultural Society Advisory Board, the Law Library Board, the Catholic Charities Board, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Board, Jodi’s Network of Hope Board of Directors, and the Local American Legion Post 303.
Jude was named Citizen Legislature of the Year by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce in 1987.
Following his departure from the bench, he ran for election for Hennepin County Attorney but was defeated in the primary on August 9, 2022. Jude also ran for election for Minnesota Attorney General during that same year, though he did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary.
The oldest of eleven children, he was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Jude later served in the United States Army Reserve (1971 to 1977). His father, Victor N. Jude, was a member of the Minnesota Legislature, and his grandfather, Bernard Jude, was the Mayor of Maple Lake, Minnesota. He is also the nephew of Dr. James Jude, who served as one of the developers of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).