AITKIN — Attorney Daniel Hawley will become the newest district court judge in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District.
Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointment last week. Hawley will replace retiring Judge Erik J. Askegaard and will be chambered in Aitkin.
The 9th District encompasses a large swath of Northern Minnesota.
Hawley is a partner at Gammello-Pearson PLLC, where he practices in the areas of family law, criminal defense, civil litigation, real estate, corporate and business law, estate planning, and municipal law.
He has also served as vice president of the Aitkin/Crow Wing Bar Association and the 15th District Bar Association, president of the Crow Wing County Law Library Board of Trustees, and chair of the board of directors of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity.
“Daniel Hawley is going to be a remarkable jurist,” Walz stated in a news release. “His distinguished career, marked by a breadth of experience across diverse areas of the law, will undoubtedly bring depth, balance, and fairness to the people of Aitkin County."
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Contributed/Lake County Sheriff's OfficeGene Adam Doherty was last seen leaving his mother's home near Silver Bay on July 1, 2025. Officials said he may be suffering from a mental health crisis. -
Megan Buffington/KAXESecond Harvest hosted a meeting to discuss its recent operational changes. Before that, another group gathered informally to talk about how to feed the community. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of AgricultureThe MN Department of Agriculture will treat 24 sites in Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Pine and St. Louis counties with nontoxic spray to slow the spread of the destructive pest. -
The state funds aim to help the competitiveness of projects in Little Rock, northern Itasca County, Crookston, Mahnomen County and beyond, which are pursuing federal funds. -
Contributed/Team Rubicon Facebook pageStarting Tuesday, July 8, 2025, around 30 "Greyshirt" volunteers will spend the next two weeks serving Bemidji residents affected by the disaster. -
Dani Fraher/KAXEThe county waived fees associated with land use and septic permits to help property owners affected by the Brimson and Jenkins Creek wildfires. -
And: Essentia to close 3 clinics for APP strike; Walz authorizes veterans disaster assistance for Beltrami County; and UCare to cut Medicaid health plans in 5 Northern MN counties. -
Contributed/Cloquet Police Department/ Minnesota Bureau of Criminal ApprehensionDaniel Latterell's body was found in the same area as his partner's body was found a week earlier north of Aitkin. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs can activate the State Soldiers Assistance Program's Disaster Relief Program to help with housing, utilities and other needs. -
Contributed/Grand ItascaIt will be one of the only rural family medicine training programs in MN, training two physicians each year and aimed at encouraging doctors to practice in rural areas.
