David Knutson (born 1965) is an American former politician and jurist from the state of Minnesota. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Minnesota Senate from 1995 until 2002, representing District 16, which includes portions of the western Twin Cities metropolitan area. During his legislative tenure, Knutson was a member of several committees, including those focused on education, transportation, and judiciary matters.
After leaving the Senate, Knutson was appointed to the Hennepin County District Court, where he served as a trial judge. His judicial career included presiding over civil and criminal cases within the county’s jurisdiction. Knutson retired from the bench in the early 2020s.
Early life and education
Knutson was born and raised in Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota and subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Political career
Elected to the Minnesota Senate in the 1994 election cycle, Knutson succeeded a retiring incumbent and was reelected in 1998. His legislative priorities included fiscal responsibility, support for small businesses, and reforms to the state’s transportation infrastructure. He did not seek reelection in 2002, opting to pursue a judicial appointment.
Judicial service
In 2002, Knutson received a judicial appointment to the Hennepin County District Court, where he served for approximately two decades. His docket included a range of matters such as family law, probate, and misdemeanor criminal cases. Throughout his tenure, he was noted for adherence to procedural rules and efforts to reduce case backlogs.
Later activities
Following his retirement from the bench, Knutson has remained involved in community affairs, including speaking engagements on law and public policy, and participation in local civic organizations.
Personal life
Knutson is married and has children. He resides in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area.
No additional verifiable public information is available beyond the scope of his political and judicial service.