News > ILCM In The News
Veena Iyer Appointed as a Judge for the Second Judicial District
Posted on May 10 2024
Veena Iyer, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), has been appointed by Governor Walz as one of two new judges to the Second Judicial District, which covers Ramsey County. Iyer will remain at ILCM for several weeks to complete her transition before joining the bench.
Iyer says:
“This is truly bittersweet. I will miss ILCM, a community like no other in its tenacity, resilience, creativity, empathy, and compassion. However, I am honored that Governor Walz has entrusted me to serve the residents of Ramsey County and to ensure justice for all. As the child of immigrants, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the Executive Director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and I am proud of all we have done together to support immigrant and refugee families across Minnesota and North Dakota.”
In the press release announcing the appointment, Walz said:
“I am honored to appoint Veena Iyer to the Ramsey County bench. Her diverse practice background and understanding of the impact that our justice system has on the many communities it serves gives me the confidence that she will be a fair and balanced judge.”
ILCM is well-prepared for a transition with a visionary Board led by Chair Sarah Radosevich and a tremendous leadership team, which will be stewarded by Interim Executive Director Jenny Stohl Powell. Jenny has been ILCM’s Legal Director since 2019 and is a trusted leader in our state’s immigration legal services ecosystem. Additionally, Maya Salah, our former Board Vice Chair, will chair the search committee to identify a new leader for ILCM.
“It is exciting to see Veena take this next step in her professional career. The Board is proud of how ILCM has thrived under her leadership, and we look forward to seeing her serve the people of Minnesota as a judge. I have the utmost confidence that ILCM’s interim leadership and excellent staff will continue to carry out our mission, serving immigrants with grace, diligence, expertise, and passion. We are poised to navigate this transition smoothly,” reflected Board Chair, Sarah Radosevich.