News Item
Leonardo Castro and Patrick Diamond Appointed to Fill Second Judicial District Vacancies

Posted: Friday, June 1, 2012

Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Mr. Leonardo Castro and Mr. Patrick Diamond as District Court Judges in Minnesota's Second Judicial District. Mr. Castro and Mr. Diamond will replace the Honorable Edward J. Cleary who was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Honorable Steven D. Wheeler who retired earlier this year. Both seats will be chambered at Saint Paul in Ramsey County.
 
About the appointments Governor Mark Dayton said, “Mr. Castro and Mr. Diamond will be excellent additions to the bench in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.  Their diverse experience, outstanding legal skills and strong commitment to public service will serve them both well.”
 
Leonardo Castro- Mr. Castro currently works as the managing attorney for the Second Judicial District Public Defender’s Office where he is responsible for managing the daily operations of all misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in Saint Paul and suburban courts. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Thomas School of Law. Previously, Mr. Castro served as the Chief Public Defender for the Fourth and Fifth Judicial Districts where he administered public defense services for each district’s counties. Prior to this, he maintained a general practice at Riha Law Office. Mr. Castro earned a B.S. in Business and Management from the University of Maryland, University College, in 1988; and a J.D. from Northern Illinois University, College of Law in 1992.

Additionally, Mr. Castro served as a Staff Sergeant with the US Air Force where he performed mechanical, electrical and regularly scheduled maintenance on nuclear weapons. He is currently Deputy General Counsel for the National Hispanic Bar Association and was board chair of The Link. Mr. Castro resides in White Bear Township with his family.

Patrick Diamond- Mr. Diamond currently serves as the Deputy Hennepin County Attorney for Criminal Prosecution where he is responsible for appellate, adult, juvenile, white collar, drug, property and gang prosecution functions. He previously worked as a Special Litigation Division Manager within the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Within this role, he supervised appellate, white collar and vulnerable adult case prosecution functions. Mr. Diamond also served as Deputy Hennepin County Attorney for Civil. Prior to this, he handled civil appellate and litigation matters as an associate attorney with Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly.  Mr. Diamond received his B.A. summa cum laude in Secondary Education from Hamline University in 1982; and a J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986.

Additionally, Mr. Diamond is co-chair of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association’s Task Force on Election Law Reform, and is a member of the Eliminating Racial Disparities committee for the Fourth Judicial District’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. He also volunteers with Camp Unistar, a summer youth camp in Cass Lake. Mr. Diamond resides in Saint Paul with his family.
 
Minnesota's Second Judicial District consists of Ramsey County.