Judge Luke Godzala: Biography & Judicial Service | KnowJudges

# Luke Godzala
District Court Judge (2026) · Minnesota Seventh Judicial District Court

## Current judicial service
Appointment announcement supports the court and chambers. The individual oath/first sitting date was not separately established; use year precision.
[Minnesota Seventh Judicial District Court](/kyj/court/mn/minnesota-seventh-judicial-district-court) — District Court Judge (2026)
Service sources and dates[Walz appoints Godzala and Welle](https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-762453) · Checked October 17, 2026

## Biography

### Professional career

- Appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in July 2026 as a District Court Judge in the Seventh Judicial District, serving in St. Cloud, Stearns County
- Law clerk for Hon. Leonard A. Weiler in the Seventh Judicial District

### Education

- B.A. in Political Science from the University of Saint Thomas.
- William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) — J.D.

### Additional information

- Before becoming a judge, Godzala was a senior attorney in the Civil Division of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office.
- focusing on treatment-based solutions for defendants with substance use disorders.
- Governor Walz announced that Godzala will replace the Honorable William J. Cashman and will be chambered in St. Cloud, Stearns County.
- The Seventh Judicial District covers Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena counties.
- Assistant City Attorney for St. Cloud, where he served on the Stearns County Drug Court Team
- Governor Walz praised Godzala as “a strong addition to the Stearns County bench” due to his deep experience in the courthouse he will preside over and his commitment to community service.
- Godzala’s appointment reflects Minnesota’s need for experienced legal professionals in its judicial system.
- His combination of courtroom experience, community leadership, and legal education positions him to make an immediate impact in Stearns County and across the Seventh Judicial District.

## Sources

Identity source checked October 6, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
01
### Office of Governor of Minnesota
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 6, 2026
[View Office of Governor of Minnesota ↗](https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-762453)

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Remote Hearing Information](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-5920703a4c3a43b48164d80e) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://mncourts.gov/remote-hearings). Collected 2026-07-26.
- [Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c45898f557aa190822c0bdd8) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening). Collected 2026-07-26.