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."
-
Plus: MN Court of Appeals to host oral arguments at Pequot Lakes High School. -
Emma Krab/KAXEAll county cameras have been removed as of Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. Cameras under city jurisdiction may remain. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is surveying people's fish-eating habits to help limit contaminants in water bodies and make fish safer to eat. -
Emma Krab/KAXEThe tax used to fund civic center improvements will end Dec. 31, 2026. -
Plus: Zebra mussels found at two lakes on the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation; Pollution Control Agency seeks participants for fish consumption survey.
-
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe staff also found starry stonewort in Six Mile Lake, near the city of Cass Lake. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Bemidji Planning Board voted 6-1 to prohibit new developments of data centers greater than 10,000 square feet during its meeting Sept. 14, 2026. -
Plus: DNR cancels mineral lease for Twin Metals; and ICE's immigration crackdown last winter may have ripple effects for farm labor during harvest season.
-
Contributed/Twin Metals Minnesota via MinnPostThe action comes weeks after executive action by Gov. Tim Walz halted the mining company's efforts to establish a copper-nickel mine in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Bureau of Indian Affairs announced it was assuming operations of family and children services in Red Lake following a raid on Sept. 10, 2026.
