The Hon. Patricia Alander Aanes is a judge for the 9th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mark Dayton on February 8, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. David J. Ten Eyck.
The 9th Judicial District includes Aitkin County, Beltrami County, Cass County, Clearwater County, Crow Wing County, Hubbard County, Itasca County, Kittson County, Koochiching County, Lake of the Woods County, Mahnomen County, Marshall County, Norman County, Pennington County, Polk County, Red Lake County, and Roseau County.
Prior to her appointment, Aanes was a sole practitioner in her own private practice, where she specialized in family law litigation and mediation. Before that, she spent time as an associate at the Erickson & Pearson Law Offices, rising through the ranks to become a named partner at the Erickson, Pearson & Aanes Law Offices (renamed Erickson & Aanes Law Offices).
Aanes earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 1994. She then completed a J.D. at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 1997.
After graduating from law school, Aanes began her legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Michael Seibel and the Hon. Donald E. Rysavy of the 3rd Judicial District Court of Minnesota. Then, after the conclusion of her clerkships, she entered into private practice.
Her memberships have included the boards of the Crow Wing County Crime Victim Services and the YMCA Brainerd Lakes Area. She also vice-chaired the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, and she attends Trinity Lutheran Church.