NEWS RELEASE
November 5, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Chelsie Hollencamp
St. Louis County Attorney’s Office
Duluth, MN 218-726-2323
hollencampc@stlouiscountymn.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
St. Louis County Attorney’s Office Congratulates Vicky Wanta on Judicial Appointment
DULUTH, Minn. — St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki and the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office congratulates Vicky Wanta on her appointment by Governor Tim Walz to serve as a district court judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District.
Wanta will fill the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Leslie E. Beiers. The position is chambered in Duluth.
“We are incredibly proud of Vicky and this well-deserved appointment,” said St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki. “Her experience as a prosecutor, work with justice system partners, and commitment to public service have given her a valuable perspective on the people and issues that come before our courts. While we will certainly miss having her as part of our office, we congratulate her on this next chapter and wish her every success on the bench.”
Wanta serves as a Senior Assistant St. Louis County Attorney in the Adult Criminal Division, where she prosecutes serious felony cases. Her work has included service on the St. Louis County Mental Health Court and Drug Court teams, providing experience with specialized court programs that address the circumstances contributing to criminal behavior. Wanta also serves as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and an instructor in the Law Enforcement Program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.
Wanta earned dual undergraduate degrees in political science and the sociology of law, criminology and deviance from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She went on to the University of St. Thomas School of Law. While earning her degree, Wanta worked with the 10th District Public Defender's Office in Anoka, the Carver County Attorney's Office in Chaska, the Federal Commutations Clinic in Minneapolis, and offenders in restorative justice at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater. Wanta began working for the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office immediately out of law school in 2013.
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office also extends its appreciation to Judge Beiers for more than 12 years of service on the bench. Before her judicial appointment in 2014, Beiers served in the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office for over 19 years, including a distinct leadership role overseeing the Criminal division. Her judicial career included service as Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial District. The Office thanks Judge Beiers for her years of public service and wishes her well in retirement.
Judges hold an essential responsibility in our justice system. They are entrusted with applying the law fairly, protecting the rights of everyone who enters a courtroom, and ensuring that each case receives careful and impartial consideration. Their decisions affect entire communities, making judicial integrity and sound judgment fundamental to public trust in the courts.
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office is grateful for Wanta’s service to the Office and community and look forward to the contributions she will make to Minnesota's judiciary.
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