Judge Joseph A. Bueltel

Steele County Courthouse
Phone: (507) 444-7715

Appointed:

Education:

WILLIAM MITCHELL COLLEGE OF LAW
J.D., Cum Laude, 1987
Activities:
•William Mitchell Law Review, Staff Writer, 1985-86
•Semi-Finalist, Chief Justice Douglas K. Amdahl Trial Advocacy Competition, 1986-87

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
B.A., 1984
Majors: Psychology and Sociology

NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
A.A., Honors Graduate, 1982
Major: Liberal Arts

Professional Experience:

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Owatonna, MN
Chief Public Defender  1999 - 2002
Assistant Public Defender 1992 - 1999
AWARDS:
•“Don’t Tread on Me Award” 1993
•Clarence Earl Gideon Outstanding Service Award 1996
•Most Trials Full-Time Attorney 1996
•Best Client Success Story 1998

SMITH & TOLLEFSON LAW FIRM
Private practice 1988 -1994
Owatonna, MN

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Faribault, Minnesota
Judicial Law Clerk 1987-1988
Clerk for three District Court Judges in Rice County (Wolf, Borene and Johnson)

Legal and Community Activities:

Criminal Jury Instruction Guides Committee, 2005 - Present

Alternate, Minnesota District Judges Association Board of Directors, 2005 - Present

Chair, Third Judicial District Access to Justice Committee, 2006 - Present

Chair, Third Judicial District Early Neutral Evaluations Pilot Project, 2006 - Present

Lead Judge, Steele County Children’s Justice Initiative, 2004

Steele County Bar Association
•Member, 1988 - Present
•Secretary, 1993
•Vice-President, 1994
•President, 1995

High School Mock Trial Program
•Coach, Janesville High School, 1988
•Coach, Owatonna High School, 1991 - 93

Steele County Habitat for Humanity
•Secretary, 1993 - 1995
•Board of Directors, 1993 - 1998
•Co-Chair, Family Selection, 1993 - 2000
•Member, Family Selection, 2000 - 2003

Owatonna Park & Recreation Department Coach, 1998 - present

American Red Cross Blood Donor, 1999 - Present