Some of you might be old enough to remember The Flip Wilson Show. One of his trademark lines was, “Here comes the Judge!”
Our profile this week is of Tori Stewart—District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Tori and I conducted this interview via zoom.
Tori is the daughter of retired judge Bill Stewart and his late wife Shirley. She grew up near Downsville, later moving to the Cedar Falls area.
Remembering Menomonie High School highlights came easily to Tori.
She loved band, starting with Miles Mortenson during her freshman and sophomore years. As a junior, Scott Plank took over bringing his area of expertise: marching band. So for the next two years Tori participated in parades, football game half-time shows, and marching routines. She remembers enjoying those routines with the coordinated music and movement.
Another course Tori remembers well was Allen Foxwell’s speech class. As a naturally shy person in high school, she feared speaking before a group of people. At the beginning of the course she used the strategy of always being the first to volunteer so that she could relax during the other speeches. But as the year progressed, Tori became more comfortable in the environment and gained self-confidence. (She uses what she learned in class every day in her current occupation).
Another memorable experience was Social Studies with James Hardy. She had always been interested in the topic as well as in government and described her teacher as firm and demanding…two qualities she appreciated.
During summers, Tori was a lifeguard at Wakanda Waterpark, Butch’s Bay and the MHS fieldhouse.
Following graduation Tori enrolled at the University of MN where she majored in Sociology (Law, Criminology, and Deviance) with a minor in Political Science. She loved her studies in psychology. One of her most memorable courses as an undergrad was “Crime and Punishment” taught by the warden of Oak Park Heights Prison. While the class was held on campus, Tori remembers their visit to the prison. Memorable indeed!
During her junior and senior years, she worked in the US Attorney’s Office (USAO) in the District of Minnesota. Upon graduation, she continued her work there as a legal assistant until she enrolled in law school in 2002 at William Mitchell College of Law.
Tori’s first year in law school she described as “hard” because of the new way of learning and thinking that was required in her courses. Once the courses focused on practical learning, like advocacy, appellate writing, and mediation practice, she found her footing in law school. In 2005, Tori graduated – aspiring to practice in the public sector in criminal law.
After passing the Minnesota Bar Exam, she was sworn in as an attorney in October 2005. She went on to obtain her license to practice law in Wisconsin as well.
Her first job as an attorney was at the private firm of Hughes and Costello, based in St. Paul. While there, she handled the criminal prosecution contract for the City of Richfield, prosecuting all levels of misdemeanors. Approximately eighteen months later, she accepted a position in Rice County, MN as an Assistant County Attorney, handling prosecutions at all levels from misdemeanors to felonies.
From 2007 to 2013, Tori served as Assistant County Attorney in Dakota County. She stated that she learned so much there and considered it a “turning point” in her career. It was here that she was assigned a list of serious cases dealing with child criminal sexual conduct, murder, child pornography and other major crimes. The challenge was in dealing with sensitive trauma issues among the parties involved. Here she was provided with a lot of trial experience.
In 2023 Tori applied for a judgeship and was sworn in by Governor Tim Walz on May 7, 2023. She serves in Goodhue County, with the county seat located in Red Wing. As a judge in a small county, she handles every case type – criminal, civil, family, protective orders, evictions, adult and child protection, juvenile, adoptions, and everything that could possibly enter the courthouse.
While her profession takes up a great deal of time, Tori and her husband, Brad Drayna, a police lieutenant in the City of Richfield, love to travel. They’ve been to Europe, Panama, South and Central America and the Caribbean. They’re currently planning a transatlantic cruise, starting in Florida, stopping in the Azores, Gibraltar, Corsica, and ending in Rome.
Tori and Brad also enjoy biking, attending group fitness classes at Orangetheory and weekend trips to Des Moines, Iowa. Working on 1,000-piece puzzles is another passion.
Tori’s thoughts on growing up in Menomonie? She describes it as “a little bit sheltered. It provided freedom with a strong sense of community and it felt like you knew everyone.”
“Here comes Menomonie’s own judge, Tori Stewart!”
I enjoyed learning about Tori and hope you readers all did as well.
Judy Foust is a retired longtime 7th Grade Reading Specialist at Menomonie Middle School. To submit info to her or to request an interview she may be contacted at [email protected]
