JaPaul J. Harris
MN · Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals
JaPaul Harris is a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, appointed in 2024. He previously served as a Ramsey County district court judge and Hennepin County judicial referee. His earlier legal work included legal aid, housing-law representation, teaching, and public service.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Wrote the Minnesota Court of Appeals decision throwing out an eviction judgment because the tenant never paid the deposit, never got access, and never lived in the apartment (Hegenes Properties v. Rodriguez).
May 26, 2026
Source: law.justia.com
Served as co-chair of the Minnesota Supreme Court Committee for Equality and Justice and led development of a judiciary diversity, equity, and inclusion training requirement.
June 14, 2024
Source: mncourts.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 3 favorable
As a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge, wrote the court's ruling upholding a trial judge's decision to give a man probation instead of the usual 33-month prison term for second-degree assault (State v. Galette, A24-1880).
June 30, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: mncourts.gov
Wrote the Minnesota Court of Appeals decision upholding the dismissal of a state facility resident's small-claims suit over a confiscated compact disc, holding he missed required steps to move the case to district court (Semler v. Johnson, A24-1162).
June 30, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: mncourts.gov
Took the oath of office as a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge at a June 2024 investiture ceremony.
June 14, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: mncourts.gov
Past race JaPaul J. Harris ran in:
- Judge - Court of Appeals 18 · November 3, 2026 · Minnesota · incumbent