Judge Profile:

Judge Galen J. Vaa Clay County Clay County Courthouse Phone: (218) 299-5065 Appointed/Elected: Appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura in 2000. Elected in 2002 and 2008. His current term expires in January 2015. Education: J.D., University of South Dakota, 1974 B.A., Moorhead State College, 1970 Employment: Attorney- McLavnan, Hannaher, Vaa & Skatvold, (Moorhead, Minnesota) 1975-2000 Assistant Attorney General- State of South Dakota, 1974-1975 Professional Memberships: Ronald N. Davies Inns of Court, Fargo, ND, 1995-2007 Minnesota District Judge’s Association, 2000-2007 American Bar Association Minnesota State Bar Association American Board of Trial Advocates Federal Bar Association Professional Activities: President- Ronald N. Davies Inns of Court, 2005 Chairman- Case Flow Management Committee, Seventh Judicial District, 2005-2007 Lead Judge for the Seventh Judicial District- Children’s Justice Initiative, 2005-2006 President- St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council (Moorhead), 2006-2007 President- Seventh District Bar Association, 1999-2000 President- Clay County Bar Association, 1979 Board of Directors- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1990-2000 Community Activities: President- Clay County Historical Society, 1999 President- Trinity Lutheran Church (Moorhead), 1983 Trinity Foundation Board Member- 1983-1984 Chair- 1993 Vice-chair- FM Volunteers for Community Service, 1988 President- Red River Serenity Manor Halfway House, 1983 Lecturing and Teaching Experience: Annual presenter of the Civil Case Law Update at the Minnesota District Judges Association annual convention at Madden’s, 2004-2007 In 1981, Judge Vaa taught "Innkeepers Law" at Moorhead State University. It was a four credit course taught to juniors and seniors majoring in hotel management.

Judge Galen J. Vaa

Clay County

Clay County Courthouse
Phone: (218) 299-5065

Appointed/Elected:

Appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura in 2000. Elected in 2002 and 2008. His current term expires in January 2015.

Education:

J.D., University of South Dakota, 1974
B.A., Moorhead State College, 1970

Employment:

Attorney- McLavnan, Hannaher, Vaa & Skatvold, (Moorhead, Minnesota) 1975-2000
Assistant Attorney General- State of South Dakota, 1974-1975

Professional Memberships:

Ronald N. Davies Inns of Court, Fargo, ND, 1995-2007
Minnesota District Judge’s Association, 2000-2007
American Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
American Board of Trial Advocates
Federal Bar Association

Professional Activities:

President- Ronald N. Davies Inns of Court, 2005

Chairman- Case Flow Management Committee, Seventh Judicial District, 2005-2007

Lead Judge for the Seventh Judicial District- Children’s Justice Initiative, 2005-2006

President- St. Joseph’s Pastoral Council (Moorhead), 2006-2007

President- Seventh District Bar Association, 1999-2000

President- Clay County Bar Association, 1979

Board of Directors- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1990-2000

Community Activities:

President- Clay County Historical Society, 1999

President- Trinity Lutheran Church (Moorhead), 1983

Trinity Foundation
Board Member- 1983-1984
Chair- 1993

Vice-chair- FM Volunteers for Community Service, 1988

President- Red River Serenity Manor Halfway House, 1983

Lecturing and Teaching Experience:

Annual presenter of the Civil Case Law Update at the Minnesota District Judges Association annual convention at Madden’s, 2004-2007

In 1981, Judge Vaa taught "Innkeepers Law" at Moorhead State University. It was a four credit course taught to juniors and seniors majoring in hotel management.