Hon. Leonardo Castro

Leonardo Castro is a judge serving the Minnesota 2nd District Court Position 1, a role he has held since his appointment in 2012. He was elected to the position in 2020 and will serve until January 4, 2027. Prior to his judgeship, Castro was the managing attorney for the Second Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, overseeing daily operations for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in St. Paul and surrounding suburban courts. He also contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Thomas School of Law. Castro earned a B.S. in business and management from the University of Maryland, University College in 1988, followed by a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1992.