FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2026
Contact: Maren Stewart
maren.stewart@state.mn.us
612-594-1721

Governor Walz Appoints Zachary Lyngaas to Fill First Judicial District Vacancy

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Zachary Lyngaas as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Lyngaas will replace the Honorable Caroline H. Lennon and will be chambered in Shakopee in Scott County. 

“In every role he holds, Zachary Lyngaas works to uphold the rule of law and serve the people of this state with distinction,” said Governor Walz. “As a public defender, he fought for fair outcomes for all his clients. As a prosecutor, he responsibly pursued cases and prioritized justice and fairness. As a member of our armed forces, he defended our nation at home and abroad. This balanced perspective and commitment to service makes him a great judge in Scott County.” 

Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley Counties.  

Zachary Lyngaas is an assistant public defender in the First District Public Defender’s Office, where he represents adult and juvenile clients. He previously worked as an assistant county attorney in the McLeod County Attorney’s Office and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Shereen M. Askalani in the Fourth Judicial District. Lyngaas is a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He currently serves as First Sergeant for A Troop, 1-94 Cavalry. Lyngaas’s volunteer activities include mentoring law students as part of the University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentor Externship Program and coaching youth t-ball and baseball. He earned his B.S. from South Dakota State University and his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. 

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage. 

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