John Dehen Censured Suspended

John Dehen, a judge for Minnesota's 10th Judicial District in Anoka County, was censured and suspended without pay for nine months, effective September 29, 2025, by the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Board on Judicial Standards proved by clear and convincing evidence that Dehen committed judicial misconduct after he ordered a court administrator to increase his own court reporter's pay — conduct the court found "particularly egregious" — and separately presided over a court proceeding from a moving vehicle.

A state disciplinary panel had initially recommended a six-month suspension, but the Minnesota Supreme Court increased it to nine months, finding the conduct warranted a stronger sanction. The court's order also specifies that if Dehen leaves the bench during the suspension period, he is barred from practicing law for its remaining duration.