--- title: "William H. Koch | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # William H. Koch Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Minnesota Fourth 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 - However, the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office opposed these removal efforts, arguing that blanket removal motions are illegal and that Koch is effective for defense cases - Additionally, he has been honored by the United States Secret Service and the Department of Justice for his work on counterfeiting and environmental criminal enforcement cases - Prior to his judicial appointment, Koch served as a federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office ### Education - Duke University - George Washington University Law School — J.D. ### Additional information - Appointed/Elected: Current term expires in January 2027. - Joined the Hennepin County District Court by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2007 after being nominated by the non-partisan Commission on Judicial Selection, and he was subsequently elected in 2008, with re-elections in 2014 and 2020. - He received the Professionalism Award from the Hennepin County Bar Association in 2017 for his work on behalf of the legal profession and his leadership in training and outreach efforts. - Prosecutors alleged that he sometimes abandons his neutral role, interrupts attorneys, and takes over witness questioning. - handling major crimes in collaboration with agencies such as the FBI, EPA, and Secret Service. - Judge Koch has been involved in legal disputes regarding his courtroom demeanor. - He also practiced public law and civil litigation, with a focus on environmental law, and held positions in large law firms in California and Minnesota - The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has sought to remove him from presiding over felony cases, citing concerns about his behavior, including being “arrogant, dismissive, patronizing, condescending, and disrespectful,” particularly toward female attorneys and probation officers. - The Chief Judge of Hennepin County denied the request, ruling that the prosecutors’ blanket filings were improper and disrupted court administration - Judge Koch has been recognized for his professionalism and contributions to the legal community. - He has organized international judicial exchanges, including trips to the Republic of Georgia and Cuba, to promote understanding of the rule of law and judicial processes. ## 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/william-h.-koch) - [Official roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/william-h.-koch) - [Minnesota Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/william-h.-koch) - [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 William H. Koch](https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/william-h.-koch) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn", "name": "William H. Koch | KnowJudges", "description": "William H. Koch, Minnesota Fourth 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/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn#judge", "name": "William H. Koch", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-judicial-district-mn", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Minnesota Fourth Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://mncourts.gov/about-the-courts/judicialdirectory/active-judicial-officers/04-district/william-h.-koch" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Duke University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "George Washington University Law School" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Minnesota", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/minnesota" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William H. Koch", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-h-koch-judge-fourth-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.