# Joan N. Ericksen *American jurist; senior United States district judge, District of Minnesota* Joan Nancy Ericksen, born in 1954 and known earlier as Joan Ericksen Lancaster, is a lawyer and a senior judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]].[^1] She has served as an assistant United States attorney, a state trial judge, an associate justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], and a federal district judge.[^2][^3][^4] [[Arne Carlson]] appointed her to the Fourth Judicial District Court for Hennepin County in 1995 and to the state supreme court in 1998.[^3] President George W. Bush nominated her to the federal bench on January 23, 2002. The Senate confirmed her by a 99–0 vote, and she took senior status in 2019.[^4] She was appointed to the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 2023 and was designated its chief judge in 2025.[^5] ## Early life and education Ericksen is a native of St. Paul, [[Minnesota]].[^6] In 1975 she completed a special diploma of social studies in political theory at Hertford College, Oxford.[^6] St. Olaf College awarded her a Bachelor of Arts in 1977, and the [[University of Minnesota Law School]] awarded her a Juris Doctor in 1981.[^6] ## Career After law school, Ericksen practiced privately from 1981 to 1983.[^2] For the following decade, from 1983 to 1993, she was an assistant United States attorney in the District of Minnesota. She then returned to private practice in Minnesota from 1993 to 1995.[^2] Carlson appointed her in 1995 to the Fourth Judicial District Court for Hennepin County, where she sat until 1998.[^3] He appointed her again in 1998, this time to the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] as an associate justice in succession to [[Sandra Gardebring Ogren]]. She served on that court until 2002.[^3] ### Federal judicial service On January 23, 2002, President George W. Bush nominated Ericksen to the District of Minnesota seat left open by Judge [[Paul A. Magnuson]].[^4] The Senate voted 99–0 to confirm her on April 25, 2002, and she received her [[Commission]] on May 1.[^4] Her senior status began on October 15, 2019.[^4] Ericksen received an appointment to the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 2023. In 2025 she was named that court's chief judge.[^5] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Joan Nancy Ericksen, born 1954, formerly Joan Ericksen Lancaster.[^1] - Appointed to state judicial posts by Arne Carlson in 1995 and 1998.[^3] - Nominated to the federal bench by President George W. Bush in 2002.[^4] ### What - Assistant United States attorney, District of Minnesota, 1983–1993.[^2] - Judge, Fourth Judicial District Court for Hennepin County, 1995–1998.[^3] - Associate justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1998–2002.[^3] - Senior United States district judge, District of Minnesota.[^1] - Chief judge, United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court, designated 2025.[^5] ### When - Nominated January 23, 2002; confirmed 99–0 on April 25, 2002; commissioned May 1, 2002.[^4] - Assumed senior status October 15, 2019.[^4] ### Where - Born in St. Paul, Minnesota.[^6] - State trial service in Hennepin County.[^3] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead section: name, former name, birth year, and current office as senior district judge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Career" section: private practice 1981–1983 and 1993–1995, and assistant U.S. attorney service 1983–1993. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Career" section: appointments by Arne Carlson to the Hennepin County district court (1995–1998) and the Minnesota Supreme Court (1998–2002), succeeding Sandra Gardebring Ogren. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Federal judicial service" subsection: nomination January 23, 2002, to the Magnuson seat; 99–0 confirmation April 25; commission May 1; senior status October 15, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Federal judicial service" subsection: appointment to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court in 2023 and designation as its chief judge in 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joan N. Ericksen* (revision 1367225398, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Early life and education" section: birthplace, the 1975 Oxford diploma, the 1977 B.A., and the 1981 J.D. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_N._Ericksen