David R. Stras
Encyclopedia
David Ryan Stras is an associate justice
of the Minnesota Supreme Court
appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty
. Stras's term began on July 1, 2010, and he was officially sworn in on July 12, 2010. Stras was a professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School
from 2004 to 2010, teaching in the areas of criminal law, federal jurisdiction, constitutional law, and law and politics.
He also served as co-director of the Institute for Law and Politics
.
Stras has contributed to research on such topics as judicial pensions and life tenure
for judges. He has also studied judicial appointments and the politics of courts. He is a regular contributor on federal legal topics at Minnesota Public Radio
.
with highest honors and an M.B.A. from the University of Kansas
. In 1999 he earned a J.D.
from the University of Kansas School of Law
, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Criminal Procedure Edition of the Kansas Law Review. He clerked
on two federal courts of appeal, for Judges Melvin Brunetti on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Michael Luttig
on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Stras then worked at the D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood for a year, after which he clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas
of the United States Supreme Court.
and Germany
.
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court
The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota and consists of seven members. The court was first assembled as a three-judge panel in 1849 when Minnesota was still a territory. The first members were lawyers from outside of the region who were appointed by...
appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
. Stras's term began on July 1, 2010, and he was officially sworn in on July 12, 2010. Stras was a professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
from 2004 to 2010, teaching in the areas of criminal law, federal jurisdiction, constitutional law, and law and politics.
He also served as co-director of the Institute for Law and Politics
Institute for Law and Politics
The Institute for Law and Politics is an interdisciplinary research institute based at the University of Minnesota Law School. The Institute for Law and Politics brings together faculty from the Law School and the University of Minnesota Political Science department to study national and...
.
Stras has contributed to research on such topics as judicial pensions and life tenure
Life tenure
A life tenure or service during good behaviour is a term of office that lasts for the office holder's lifetime , unless the office holder is removed from office for cause under extraordinary circumstances or chooses to resign.Judges and members of some upper chambers have life tenure...
for judges. He has also studied judicial appointments and the politics of courts. He is a regular contributor on federal legal topics at Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
.
Education
Stras received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with highest honors and an M.B.A. from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. In 1999 he earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Kansas School of Law
University of Kansas School of Law
The University of Kansas School of Law is a public law school located on the main campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The University of Kansas Law School was founded in 1893, replacing the earlier Department of Law, which had existed since 1878. The school has more than 50...
, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Criminal Procedure Edition of the Kansas Law Review. He clerked
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
on two federal courts of appeal, for Judges Melvin Brunetti on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig
J. Michael Luttig is an American lawyer and a former federal appellate court judge.-Education and early work:Born in Tyler, Texas, Luttig graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1976. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in...
on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Stras then worked at the D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood for a year, after which he clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
of the United States Supreme Court.
Personal life
Stras' paternal side of his family are Holocaust survivors from HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.