Preston City Attorney and private practice lawyer Dwight Luhmann will succeed retired Judge Mary Leahy as one of two district court judges chambered in Winona
By the Winona Post
May 28th, 2024
Judge Mary Leahy retired earlier this month after 18 years as a Winona County District Court judge, and Gov. Tim Walz announced his appointment of Luhmann to the Third Judicial District bench on May 23. The Commission on Judicial Selection recommended five candidates for two vacancies in Southeast Minnesota’s third district, including Third District Public Defender’s Office Managing Attorney and former Winona County prosecutor Rebecca Church. Walz tapped Luhmann for the seat in Winona as well as Third District Referee Erin Lindhart Felten for a judgeship in Olmsted County.
“I am excited to appoint Dwight Luhmann to the Winona County bench,” Walz said in a statement. “His broad legal background and firm but graceful approach to guiding his clients through challenging moments in their lives will make him an exceptional jurist.”
Luhmann practices in the areas of criminal law, family law, estate planning, real estate, probate, and civil litigation. In addition to his role as Preston city attorney, he also serves as the prosecuting attorney for the cities of Rushford and Wykoff, Minn. Luhmann previously worked as an attorney for David A. Joerg, P.A. in Preston. His community involvement includes serving as the chair of the Preston Economic Development Authority, the president of the Fillmore County Law Library Board, and the parent attorney representative for the Fillmore County Children’s Justice Initiative. Luhmann is a past board member and president of the Preston Area Community Foundation. He received his B.S. from North Dakota State University and J.D. from University of North Dakota School of Law.