Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointments of Luke Godzala and Laura Welle as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Godzala will replace the Honorable William J. Cashman and be chambered in St. Cloud, Stearns County, while Welle will replace the Honorable Gail T. Kulick and be chambered in Milaca, Mille Lacs County.
Governor Walz praised the new appointees, saying, “Luke Godzala is a strong addition to the Stearns County bench. His deep experience working in the courthouse he will now preside in, coupled with his commitment to serving the community he calls home, will enable him to make an immediate and meaningful impact on the bench.” Godzala currently serves as a senior attorney in the Civil Division of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office and previously worked as an assistant city attorney in St. Cloud.
Regarding Welle, Governor Walz said, “Mille Lacs County is gaining a remarkable legal talent in Laura Welle. She is not only fair, balanced, and principled in her approach to the law, but she also manages cases in a way that respects the dignity and interests of all parties.” Welle is an assistant county attorney in the Morrison County Attorney’s Office, focusing on non-drug felony and child protection matters, and has prior experience in Crow Wing and Becker counties.
The Seventh Judicial District encompasses Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena counties. Both Godzala and Welle bring extensive legal backgrounds and community involvement to their new roles.