Judge Krista M. Marks
Appointed/Elected: Appointed by Governor Walz on January 23, 2024. Current term expires January 3, 2027.
Education:
William Mitchell College of Law, JD
University of Saint Thomas, Cum Laude, degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology
Employment:
Public Defender, Hennepin County
Attorney and Expungement Program Director, Neighborhood Justice Center Inc.
Professional Memberships:
Dakota County Bar Association
Professional and Community Activities:
School Volunteer, supporting both athletics and fundraising initiatives. Local non-profit volunteer, providing food, clothing, and other services to those in need. Serves on the Board of the South Saint Paul Education Foundation. Is a mentor with Firefly Sisterhood, for individuals impacted by breast cancer.
During her tenure on the bench, Judge Marks actively sought to engage with judicial groups serving the community. She promptly joined the First Judicial District's Equal Justice Committee.
Krista also represents the Dakota County bench on the county's Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response (DVCCR) Team and serves as the First District representative to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Judicial Leadership Workgroup.
Krista is a first-generation college graduate who has consistently demonstrated dedication to the well-being of her community. For thirteen years, she worked at the Neighborhood Justice Center, Inc., where she excelled in community advocacy. She devoted countless hours visiting high schools and community organizations throughout the Twin Cities metro area, educating youth and adults about their legal rights and the broader justice system.
Through her tireless efforts, she became an invaluable resource and trusted advocate for those she served.
Education is very important to Krista. She is fortunate to serve on the Board of the South Saint Paul Education Foundation whose mission is bridging donors and students to enrich learning and impact lives.
Her exceptional work ethic and commitment led to her appointment as a Public Defender in Hennepin County in 2016. She served in the Serious Crimes Division for eight years, handling complex cases with skill and integrity.
Krista is also a breast cancer survivor, having navigated the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery herself. Her journey through the disease left her with deep empathy for others facing similar battles, and rather than turning inward, she chose to channel that experience into meaningful support for the community.
Driven by a genuine desire to ensure no one has to fight cancer alone, Krista volunteers as a mentor with Firefly Sisterhood, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization founded in 2014. Firefly Sisterhood specializes in providing free, personalized, one-to-one peer support for individuals impacted by breast cancer.