The Hon. Thomas P. Knapp (Ret.) served as a judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. Knapp was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arne Carlson on September 25, 1995. He retired on June 3, 2013, and became a senior judge for the State of Minnesota.
The 7th Judicial District includes Becker County, Benton County, Clay County, Douglas County, Mille Lacs County, Morrison County, Otter Tail County, Stearns County, Todd County, and Wadena County.
Knapp earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in 1970. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1973.
After graduating from law school, Knapp entered into private practice, handling personal injury, worker’s compensation, commercial litigation, marital dissolution, and real estate matters in St. Cloud. He spent time as a partner at Hughes, Thoreen & Sullivan (1975 to 1991), Hughes, Thoreen, Mathews & Knapp (1991 to 1994), and Hughes, Thoreen & Knapp (1994 to 1995).
His memberships have included the Minnesota State Bar Association, the 7th District Bar Association, the Stearns-Benson County Bar Association, and the Children’s Justice Initiative for Benton County. He has also been involved with the St. Cloud Lions Club, the Executive Board of the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA, and the Board of Trustees of Catholic Aid Life Insurance.