Minnesota names first Black chief justice of state Supreme Court, Natalie Hudson

@ap.news Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to the media Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota democrats completed a trifecta Wednesday by winning both houses of the legislature to take full control of state government for the first time in eight years. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has promoted Natalie Hudson to chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. When she assumes the post this fall, Hudson will be the first Black person to lead the state’s highest court. Hudson was appointed associate justice in 2015 after serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals for 13 years. She’ll lead the high court when the current chief justice retires in October. Walz also appointed his former general counsel, Karl Procaccini, to fill Hudson’s spot as associate justice. Procaccini previously served as the top lawyer in the governor’s office, where his work included the state’s response to COVID-19.