The Honorable Nancy E. Brasel ’96, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Will Deliver Keynote Address at the University of Minnesota Law School’s 138th Commencement

The Honorable Nancy E. Brasel, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, will be the Law School’s commencement speaker for the Class of 2026. This year’s commencement will be held on May 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Northrop. 

Judge Brasel, a 1996 graduate of the Law School, was appointed to the federal bench in September 2018. After graduating from Minnesota Law, Judge Brasel worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Donald P. Lay, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She then worked for the law firm Leonard, Street and Deinard (now Stinson LLP) and as a partner at Greene Espel. From 2008 to 2011, Judge Brasel served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota and prosecuted narcotics, firearms, and financial crimes. In 2011, Governor Mark Dayton appointed Judge Brasel to Hennepin County District Court, where she served until her appointment to the federal bench. She has long been a supporter of the Law School, having served as chair of Minnesota Law’s Board of Advisors last year. 

“Judge Brasel’s commitment to the rule of law and public service speaks directly to our mission at Minnesota Law,” says Dean William McGeveran, William S. Pattee Professor of Law. “We look forward to hearing more from her as we celebrate the Class of 2026!”