The Hon. Shan C. Wang is a judge for the 7th Judicial District Court of Minnesota. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Mark Dayton on September 6, 2017, filling a position newly created by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
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 his judicial career, Wang has held assignments on the 7th Judicial District Equal Justice Committee, the Judicial Officer Technology Advisory Team, and the Committee for Equality and Justice. He also played an instrumental role in creating the Stearns County Felony Domestic Violence Court.
Prior to his appointment, Wang worked for the Stearns County Attorney’s Office. He started as an assistant county attorney, rising through the ranks to become Chief Assistant County Attorney of the Criminal Division in 2007. Wang has specialized in the prosecution of cases involving narcotics, homicides, prostitution, sex trafficking, and gang violence.
Wang earned a bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University in 1999. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School in 2002.
After graduating from law school, Wang began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Regina M. Chu of the Hennepin County District Court. He served in that capacity until 2004, at which time he joined the Stearns County Attorney’s Office.
His memberships have included the Stearns-Benton Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the John E. Simonett American Inn of Court. He has also been involved with the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and the Gerald D. Vick Human Trafficking Task Force.
Born in South Korea, Wang was a resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota, at the time of his appointment.