Blackwelder sworn in as district court judge
Judge will fill vacancy in Lyon, Lincoln County courts
Photo by Deb Gau Jeremy Blackwelder was sworn in as a judge by District Court Judge Michelle Dietrich during a Friday ceremony at the Lyon County courthouse. Blackwelder's daughter Hudsyn held the Bible he was sworn in on.
Photo by Deb Gau As part of Jeremy Blackwelder's investiture ceremony, Blackwelder was presented with his judge's robes by his brother Matthew.
Photo by Deb Gau Jeremy Blackwelder was sworn in as a judge by District Court Judge Michelle Dietrich during a Friday ceremony at the Lyon County courthouse. Blackwelder's daughter Hudsyn held the Bible he was sworn in on.
Photo by Deb Gau As part of Jeremy Blackwelder's investiture ceremony, Blackwelder was presented with his judge's robes by his brother Matthew.
Trending
MARSHALL -- In his career, Jeremy Blackwelder has seen the legal system from different perspectives, serving in law enforcement and later as an attorney. After Friday, he will gain another perspective, as a district court judge.
"I'm incredibly proud and honored to be standing here today," Blackwelder said, at an investiture ceremony held at the Lyon County Courthouse. However, he said he also promised to keep listening and learning, and to treat people with dignity. "I'm ready to get to work."
Blackwelder was officially sworn in as a judge in Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District during Friday's ceremony. Blackwelder will fill a vacancy in Lyon and Lincoln County district court, left by the death of Judge Tricia Zimmer earlier this summer.
"He is unique in his experiences," guest speaker Cecil Naatz said of Blackwelder. Blackwelder has experience as both a police officer and an attorney, he said.
Naatz said Blackwelder spent most of his career in Minnesota's Eighth Judicial District, to the north of Lyon County. He was previously an attorney at Holmstrom, Kvam, & Blackwelder, PLLP, and also served as city attorney for the cities of Granite Falls and Maynard.
In January, Blackwelder moved to the Fifth Judicial District, where he became an assistant public defender, working with Naatz.
Naatz said Blackwelder met the requirements to be a judge. In addition, Blackwelder's most important role was as a husband and father, Naatz said.
Retired judge Dwayne Knutsen, who served in the Eighth Judicial District, said Blackwelder had stepped forward as a person who could advance the mission of the court.
Members of Blackwelder's family took part in the investiture ceremony, with his son leading a prayer, and his daughter holding the Bible as he took his oath as a judge. Blackwelder's wife and his brother presented him with his name plate and judge's robe.
Blackwelder said the opportunity to serve as a judge was an unexpected one for him. When he first moved to the area, he said, "Standing here today was not even remotely on my radar."
After being sworn in as a judge, Blackwelder started off his remarks with a moment of silence for Judge Zimmer.
"Although this is an incredible honor, I wish the circumstances were different," he said. Zimmer set a high bar for him as a judge, he said. "She was very respected by the people who served with her, and the community."
Blackwelder said he also learned a lot from others and had a lot of support along the way to becoming a judge.
"Nobody gets to this point on their own," he said.
He thanked his co-workers, his family, and his parents. Blackwelder said his mother and father taught him a lot about working hard and how to treat people.
"They taught me to treat everyone the same," he said.
Blackwelder said he had thought about the responsibility of his new position.
"I know my decisions will affect people," he said.
Blackwelder said his goal was to be fair, to listen and work hard, and to treat everyone in the courtroom with dignity.