JaPaul Harris
Education and employment
Education:
B.A., Syracuse University, 2000.
J.D., Hamline University School of Law, 2003.
University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Policy Fellows Program (2007 - 2008)
Prior Legal Experience:
Judicial Referee, Hennepin County District Court (Fourth Judicial District)
Juvenile Court (2015- 2018);
Civil (Housing Court, Harassment Court 2012 – 2017);
Criminal (Petty Misdemeanor Court Trials 2012 – 2017);
Mental Health Civil Commitment April 2014 – 2016).
Adjunct Professor, William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline College of Law).
Managing/Supervising Attorney, Mid Minnesota Legal Aid.
Minneapolis Public School District.
Staff Attorney, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.
Professional Membership:
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota District Judges Association
American Judges Association
Current Professional and Community Activities:
Board Member, Criminal Defense Services, Inc.
Board Member, Volunteer Lawyers Network
Minnesota Supreme Committee for Equality and Justice:
Committee Member (January 2014 - Present);
Education Subcommittee Chair (September 2015 – Present)
Youth Athletics Coach, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation;
Past Professional and Community Activities:
National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts 2018 National Conference Planning Committee Education Subcommittee Co-Chair.
Former Committee Member, Fourth Judicial District Equal Justice Committee;
Former Member, Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI);
Saint Paul Earned Safe and Sick Leave Taskforce, Co-Chair;
Saint Paul Human Rights Commission:
Commission Chair (October 2010 – January 2018);
Commissioner February 2007 – October 2010)
Former Member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Racial Fairness Committee;
Former Member of the Minnesota State Board on Aging.
Judicial record
392 opinions where JaPaul Harris sat on the panel, spanning 2024–2026.
By court
By disposition
Panel votes per year
How JaPaul Harris's panel-seat count has shifted year by year. Overlaid with Jon Schmidt for comparison (drop the overlay).
- JaPaul Harris
- Jon Schmidt
Most-frequent co-panelists
Judges who appeared on the same opinions. aligned = same bucket (both majority, both dissent); partial = concurred in result but wrote separately; split = the meaningful disagreement (majority vs dissent).
- Tracy M. Smith 91 shared 91 aligned compare
- Jon Schmidt 58 shared 56 aligned 1 partial 1 split compare
- Keala C. Ede 51 shared 51 aligned compare
- Diane B. Bratvold 47 shared 46 aligned 1 split compare
- Louise D. Bjorkman 47 shared 46 aligned 1 split compare
- Sarah I. Wheelock 39 shared 35 aligned 4 split compare
- Rachel Bond 38 shared 38 aligned compare
- Michelle A. Larkin 36 shared 36 aligned compare
- Peter M. Reyes jr 35 shared 35 aligned compare
- Kevin G. Ross 34 shared 34 aligned compare
Recent opinions
15 most recent opinions where JaPaul Harris sat on the panel.