The Hon. Paula D. Vraa is a judge for the 1st Judicial District Court of Minnesota. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mark Dayton on September 11, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Diane M. Hanson.
The First Judicial District includes Carver County, Dakota County, Goodhue County, Le Sueur County, Scott County, and Sibley County.
Prior to her appointment, Vraa was a partner at Larson King, a law firm she joined in 2005. During her tenure there, she specialized in appeals, insurance coverage disputes, and professional malpractice defense matters. Before that, she spent time as a partner at Rider Bennett (2001 to 2004).
Vraa earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota in 1988. She then completed a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 1991.
After graduating from law school, Vraa began her legal career as an associate at Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala. She worked in that capacity until 1998, at which time she became a law clerk to the Hon. Harriet Lansing and the Hon. Jack Davies of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
She has been actively involved with the Disability Law Center, the Appeals Self-Help Clinic, and Junior Achievement.