--- title: "Stephen J. Ferrazzano II | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-judicial-district-mn" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Stephen J. Ferrazzano II Minnesota Fifth Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Minnesota Fifth 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 - Stephen J. Ferrazzano II is a judge of the Minnesota 5th Judicial District Court, appointed in 2018 and re‐elected in 2020, with a career in public defense, private practice, and municipal leadership - Employment: Office of State Public Defender - Trial Team, 2010-2018 - Employment: Office of State Public Defender - Assistant Public Defender, 1998-2010 - Employment: Nelson & Van Hon, Associate Attorney, 1997-1998 - Employment: Judicial Law Clerk, Fifth Judicial District, 1995-1997 ### Education - University of North Dakota School of Law — J.D. (1995) - College of New Jersey — B.A. (1992) ### Additional information - Current term expires January 2027 - He was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton on January 12, 2018 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Bradley C. Walker, and was re‐elected in 2020 - Ferrazzano serves as Judge, 5th Judicial District Court of Minnesota (Seat 11), covering Watonwan County and the broader 5th Judicial District, which includes Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan counties ## 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/05-district/stephen-j.-ferrazzano-ii) - [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/05-district/stephen-j.-ferrazzano-ii) - [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/05-district/stephen-j.-ferrazzano-ii) - [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 Stephen J. Ferrazzano II](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/05-district/stephen-j.-ferrazzano-ii) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-judicial-district-mn", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-judicial-district-mn", "name": "Stephen J. Ferrazzano II | KnowJudges", "description": "Stephen J. Ferrazzano II, Minnesota Fifth 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/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-judicial-district-mn#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-judicial-district-mn#judge", "name": "Stephen J. 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Ferrazzano II", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-j-ferrazzano-ii-judge-fifth-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.