David Stras became a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on January 31, 2018. Before serving on the Eighth Circuit, Judge Stras was an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, a position he occupied from July 1, 2010 until his recent appointment to the Eighth Circuit.
Prior to becoming a judge, Stras was a member of the faculty of the University of Minnesota Law School from 2004 through 2010. He taught and wrote in the areas of federal courts and jurisdiction, constitutional law, criminal law, and law and politics.
Judge Stras received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with highest distinction, in 1995 and his Master of Business Administration in 1999, both from the University of Kansas. He also received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1999, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Criminal Procedure Edition of the Kansas Law Review.
Following law school, Stras clerked for The Honorable Melvin Brunetti of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and then for The Honorable J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
From 2001 to 2002, he practiced white-collar criminal and appellate litigation with the Washington, D.C., office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood. Following his year in practice, he clerked for The Honorable Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States.
*****
A person listed as a contributor has spoken or otherwise participated in Federalist Society events, publications, or multimedia presentations. A person's appearance on this list does not imply any other endorsement or relationship between the person and the Federalist Society. In most cases, the biographical information on a person's "contributor" page is provided directly by the person, and the Federalist Society does not edit or otherwise endorse that information. The Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues. All expressions of opinion by a contributor are those of the contributor.
Judges Panel on Judicial Safety
Minnesota Lawyers Chapter
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP2200 Wells Fargo Center, 90 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Luncheon and Keynote Address: What My Grandparents’ Experiences in the Holocaust Taught Me About the First Amendment - Hon. David R. Stras
2024 Ohio Conference
The Westin Columbus315 High St
Columbus, OH 42315
A Federal Courts Symposium in Honor of Professor Arthur Hellman
Pittsburgh Student Chapter
Barco Law Building3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Why State Constitutions Matter
Pittsburgh Student Chapter
Barco Law Building3900 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Recent Supreme Court Cases Every Law Student Should Know
Michigan Student Chapter
The University of Michigan Law School, Hutchins Hall625 S. State St., Room 132
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Originalist Perspectives on Ethics and the Supreme Court
2023 National Lawyers Convention
Article III of the Constitution vests the “judicial Power” in “one Supreme Court, and in...
Originalist Perspectives on Ethics and the Supreme Court
2023 National Lawyers Convention
Article III of the Constitution vests the “judicial Power” in “one Supreme Court, and in...
Lockstep or Step Alone: Considering Interpretations of the Federal Constitution When Interpreting State Constitutions
Many state constitutional provisions are worded similarly to provisions of the federal Constitution. At times,...
Lockstep or Step Alone: Considering Interpretations of the Federal Constitution When Interpreting State Constitutions
Many state constitutional provisions are worded similarly to provisions of the federal Constitution. At times,...
Showcase Panel IV: The Regulatory Power of Bar Associations
2022 National Lawyers Convention
The reach of bar associations, including the ABA, extends further than many realize. From evaluating...