--- title: "Stephen L. Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-smith-judge-second-judicial-district-mn" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Stephen L. Smith Minnesota Second Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Minnesota Second 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 L. Smith is a judge of the Ramsey County District Court’s Second Judicial District in Minnesota, appointed in 2015 and re‐elected in 2018 and 2024, with a career in public defense, private practice, and public service - Private practice: Sprenger & Lang (1993–1996) Messerli & Kramer P.A. (1997–2000) The Law Firm of Stephen L. Smith, PLLC (2001–2015) - Employment: Attorney,Messerli & Kramer P.A., 1/1997 - 12/2000 - Employment: Attorney,Sprenger & Lang, 6/1993 - 12/1996 - Employment: Special Assistant Attorney General,Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, 6/1987- 6/1993 - Position: Judge, Second Judicial District (Ramsey County, MN) ### Education - University of Iowa College of Law — J.D. (1987) - Bachelor of Journalism — University of Nebraska - Lincoln — 1984 ### Additional information - Elected in 2018.Current term expires January 2031. - Minnesota Supreme Court Committee for Equality and Justice (2011–present) - Appointed/Elected: Appointed December 1, 2015, by Governor Mark Dayton. - Minnesota Association for Justice (2005–2015) - Employment: The Law Firm of Stephen L. Smith, PLLC, 1/2001 - 11/2015 - Employment: Assistant State Public Defender,Minnesota State Appellate Defender, 2001 - 11/2015 - 2009: Justice Works Award, MN Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations ## 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/02-district/stephen-l.-smith) - [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/stephen-l.-smith) - [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/stephen-l.-smith) - [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 L. Smith](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/02-district/stephen-l.-smith) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-smith-judge-second-judicial-district-mn", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-smith-judge-second-judicial-district-mn", "name": "Stephen L. Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "Stephen L. Smith, Minnesota Second 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-l-smith-judge-second-judicial-district-mn#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-smith-judge-second-judicial-district-mn#judge", "name": "Stephen L. 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Smith", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/stephen-l-smith-judge-second-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.