Hon. James E. Dehn (Ret.) was a judge for the 10th Judicial District Court of Minnesota in Isanti County. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Rudy Perpich on June 26, 1987. Dehn retired on June 26, 2017, and was subsequently appointed to serve as a statewide senior judge in 2021.
The 10th Judicial District includes Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties.
Prior to beginning his judicial career, he was a sole practitioner at his own law firm, the Dehn Law Office, since 1980. Before that, Dehn spent one year as an assistant county attorney with the Isanti County Attorney’s Office (1979 to 1980) and also served as a former special assistant attorney general with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office (1976 to 1978).
He received a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Minnesota in 1971. Dehn went on to complete a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 1975.
His memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association and the American Judicature Society. Dehn served as chair of the Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards and was the lead judge for the Children Justice Initiative Program.
He also served as a member of the Minnesota Judicial Stress Committee (chair), the Minnesota Judicial College Personal Development Committee (chair), the Century Council/National Association of State Judicial Educators Advisory Panel, the Minnesota Department of Corrections Felony DWI Advisory Committee, the Minnesota DWI Task Force, the Department of Public Safety for the State of Minnesota Towards Zero Death Committee, the 1999 Legislative DWI Task Force, the Minnesota Law Related Education Board, and the Minnesota State Bar Association Mock Trial Advisory Board.
Dehn also spent time as a lecturer, instructor, and mock trial judge.
His awards include the Towards Zero Deaths Judicial Star Award (2009); the MADD Outstanding Greater Minnesota Judiciary Award (2006); the Paul H. Chapman Award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice, Inc. (2003); and the National MADD Distinguished Service Award (2001).