The Hon. Sarah E. Hennesy is a judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mark Dayton on March 12, 2012, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Steven Ruble.
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. Over the course of her judicial career, Hennesy has held assignments as the Chief Judge and the Assistant Chief Judge of the 7th Judicial District.
Prior to her appointment, Hennesy was a staff attorney for St. Cloud Area Legal Services, a position to which she was named in 2006. In that capacity, she handles family, government assistance, and Social Security matters. Before that, she worked in Alexandria, Virginia, where she spent time as an associate at Damiani & Damiani (2003 to 2005) as well as a public defender with the Alexandria Public Defender’s Office (1999 to 2003).
Hennesy earned a bachelor’s degree from Central College in 1991. She then completed a J.D. at Drake University Law School in 1994. She is admitted to practice in Minnesota, Virginia, and Iowa.
After graduating from law school, Hennesy began her legal career as an assistant appellate defender for the Iowa State Appellate Defender’s Office in Des Moines. She served in that capacity until 1996. Then, in 1998, she entered into private practice as an associate at Kohn & Einstein in Washington, D.C.
Her memberships have included the Minnesota District Judges Association, the Stearns County Family Violence Council, and the Stearns/Benton County Bar Association. She has also been involved with the St. Cloud Area Human Rights Commission.
Born in Fairfield, Iowa, Hennesy attended Fairfield High School.