Askegaard Replaces Judge Leitner in Crow Wing County

Erik J. Askegaard of Brainerd has been appointed to the Ninth District Crow Wing County court bench by Governor Tim Pawlenty. He will replace Judge John R. Leitner who retired the end of May.

Askegaard is an attorney and president of the Askegaard and Robinson law firm in Brainerd. He was an associate attorney with the Jeffries, Olson and Flom law firm in Moorhead from 1987 to 1991, and a law clerk to North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Herbert L. Meschke in Bismarck from 1986 to 1987. Askegaard earned his degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1986, and his bachelor of science business administration degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota in 1982.

Askegaard is a certified civil trial specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

He is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota State Bar Association, where he is treasurer of the Outstate Practice Section, and has been a lecturer at numerous continuing legal education seminars.

Askegaard has served as a volunteer coach for Brainerd High School Mock Trial Competitions, basketball coach with the Brainerd Youth Athletic Association and the YMCA, a foreign exchange student host, and a member of the Sunrise Sertoma Club.

Askegaard, 49, was born in Fargo, North Dakota, grew up in Detroit Lakes and lives in Brainerd with his wife, Joan, and their three sons, Garth, 17, Gunnar, 15, and Gus, 13.