--- title: "Mark J. Kappelhoff | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-kappelhoff-assistant-chief-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Mark J. Kappelhoff Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court · Assistant Chief Judge ## Profile - Court: Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court - State: Minnesota - Role: Assistant Chief Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Mark J. Kappelhoff is the Assistant Chief Judge of the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District, serving Hennepin County since 2016, with a career spanning federal prosecution, public defense, academia, and judicial leadership - Past Employment: Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Office of the Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice - Past Employment: Assistant Public Defender, Maryland Office of the Public Defender - Past Employment: Special Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota - Past Employment: Chief, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice - Past Employment: Special Counsel, Civil Rights Division, Office of the Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice - Position: Assistant Chief Judge, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County District Court - Federal Prosecutor: Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice — Chief, Criminal Section - Deputy Assistant Attorney General; oversaw human trafficking, hate crime, and law enforcement misconduct cases - Volunteer mock trial judge, Minnesota State High School Mock Trial Competition - Past Employment: Associate Clinical Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School - Judge Kappelhoff is recognized for his work in criminal justice reform, human trafficking prosecution, and community engagement, with a long record of leadership in both state and federal legal systems - Academia: Associate Clinical Professor, University of Minnesota Law School - Director of the Criminal Justice Clinic; co‐created the Minnesota Law Public Interest Residency Program; developed the first Human Trafficking course at the school ### Education - St. John’s University — B.S. - American University — J.D. ### Additional information - Elected in 2018 and 2024.Current term expires 2030. - Presiding Judge, Juvenile Division (2021–2023) - Tri‐Chair, Youth Justice Council (2020–2023) - Appointed/Elected: Appointed July 1, 2016, by Governor Mark Dayton. - Member, Statewide Committee on Equality and Justice - Hennepin County District Court Equal Justice Committee ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote hearing recording Scope: statewide Minnesota Judicial Branch remote-hearing guidance says recording or broadcasting a remote proceeding is not authorized except as provided by court rules. Evidence excerpt: No recording or broadcasting of any remote proceeding is authorized other than as provided by court rules. [Remote Hearing Information](https://mncourts.gov/remote-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### camera audio recording devices Scope: statewide Minnesota court guidance cites Rule 4 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice and says pictures or voice recordings are not allowed except the official court record. Evidence excerpt: According to Rule 4 of the MN Rules of General Practice for the District Courts, no pictures or voice recordings [Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/mark-j.-kappelhoff) - [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/mark-j.-kappelhoff) - [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/mark-j.-kappelhoff) - [Remote Hearing Information](https://mncourts.gov/remote-hearings) - [Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening) - [Judge Mark J. Kappelhoff](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/mark-j.-kappelhoff) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-kappelhoff-assistant-chief-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-j-kappelhoff-assistant-chief-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn", "name": "Mark J. Kappelhoff | KnowJudges", "description": "Mark J. Kappelhoff, Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court. 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[Official source](https://mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/going-to-court/security-weapons-screening). Collected 2026-07-26.