--- title: "Michael D. Leeser | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Michael D. Leeser Minnesota Seventh Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Minnesota Seventh Judicial District Court - State: Minnesota - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Employment: Assistant County Attorney, Clay County Attorney’s Office | Moorhead, 2014 – 2024 - Before his judicial appointment, Leeser held the role of an Assistant County Attorney in the Clay County Attorney’s Office from 2014 to 2024, where he prosecuted both adult criminal and juvenile cases and participated in the Clay County Drug Court and Veterans Court teams. - Employment: Associate Attorney, Lies, Bullis & Hatting Law Firm | Wahpeton, ND 2011 – 2014 - Prior to that, he worked as an associate attorney at Lies, Bullis & Hatting Law Firm in Wahpeton, North Dakota (2011–2014), and as an assistant city attorney for the Wahpeton City Attorney’s Office. - Employment: Law Clerk, Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards | Mendota Heights, MN 2011 - He also held the role of a law clerk for the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards in 2011 and was an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead Minnesota Judicial Branch ### Education - Utah Valley University — B.S. - B.A. from Utah Valley University and his J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law. ### Additional information - Appointed/Elected: Appointed September 3, 2024, current term expiring January 4, 2027. - Appointed by Governor Tim Walz. - As a district court judge, Leeser presides over cases in the Seventh Judicial District, which includes Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena counties. - He has been actively involved in the community, serving as vice president of the Clay County Bar Association and as a board member of the Moorhead Economic Development Authority. ## 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/07-district/michael-d.-leeser) - [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/07-district/michael-d.-leeser) - [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/07-district/michael-d.-leeser) - [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 Michael D. Leeser](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/07-district/michael-d.-leeser) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn", "name": "Michael D. Leeser | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael D. Leeser, Minnesota Seventh Judicial District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-03", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn#judge", "name": "Michael D. 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Leeser", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-d-leeser-judge-seventh-judicial-district-mn" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.