Sophia Y. Vuelo at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Minnesota · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sophia Y. Vuelo
Biography
Professional career
- Hmong‐American judge of the Ramsey County District Court in Minnesota, appointed in 2017 and elected in 2020, with a term through January 2027
- Past Employment: Special Assistant Ramsey County Attorney
- Past Employment: Assistant Public Defender, Second Judicial District
- She is an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and participates in the St. Thomas University School of Law Mentoring Program
Education
- BA in History from the University of Minnesota in 1995
- Hamline University School of Law — J.D.
Additional information
- Sworn in January 4, 2018, becoming Minnesota’s first Hmong‐American judge and one of the few in the U.S..
- Governor Mark Dayton appointed Vuelo on December 18, 2017 to fill the vacancy created by Judge Margaret M. Marrinan’s retirement.
- Born Yeu Vue in Laos, Vuelo immigrated with her family to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she attended Memorial High School and held the role of senior class president in 1990.
- Past Employment: Assistant Rochester City Attorney
- Past Employment: Solo practitioner, Vuelo Law
- handling juvenile, family, and criminal cases
- Appointed/Elected: Appointed Dec.
- Current term expires Jan.
- Known for mentorship and advocacy for access to justice
- First Hmong‐American judge in Minnesota and the third in the U.S
- Her work spanned juvenile detention, family law, criminal defense, and public service, giving her a broad perspective on the justice system
- Ramsey County Bar Association She serves as Ramsey County Bar Association Representative to the Minnesota State Bar Association Assembly Minnesota Judicial Branch
- She has also been on the Collaborative Community Law Initiative board and the Saint Paul–Ramsey County Community Health Services Advisory Committee
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Statewide
Minnesota Judicial Branch remote-hearing guidance says recording or broadcasting a remote proceeding is not authorized except as provided by court rules.
No recording or broadcasting of any remote proceeding is authorized other than as provided by court rules.Remote Hearing Information ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
According to Rule 4 of the MN Rules of General Practice for the District Courts, no pictures or voice recordingsSecurity & Weapons Screening - Going to Court ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Remote Hearing Information
Minnesota Second Judicial District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court
Minnesota Second Judicial District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗Remote Hearing Information
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Hearing Information ↗Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Security & Weapons Screening - Going to Court ↗