EXPERIENCE
A Record of Service. A Commitment to Ramsey County.
Judge Der Yang’s experience is measured not only in titles, but in the lives she has touched, the systems she has helped improve, and the trust she has worked to build between the judiciary and the community.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Experience Rooted in Real Community Impact.
Before joining the bench, Judge Yang built The Village Lawyer, a practice where those who could afford to pay helped sustain legal services for those who could not. She provided representation with equal dignity, whether payment came in dollars, garden produce, or handmade goods.
GUIDED BY SERVICE
Ways She Has Served
The Village Lawyer
Expanded access to legal help for people who could not afford representation.
Language Access
Advocated for interpreter services and clearer access to the courtroom.
Teaching & Mentorship
Served as an adjunct professor and mentored future lawyers and young people.
Courtroom Leadership
Worked to reduce delays, improve efficiency, and ensure people understand proceedings.
EDUCATOR AND MENTOR
Teaching, Mentoring, and Opening Doors.
Judge Yang has served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, coached high school mock trial teams, and mentored young people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds who aspire to careers in law and public service.
"Judge Yang’s contributions are measurable in the lives she has touched, the systems she has improved, and the trust she has built."
— JUDGE DER YANG —
Improving the Courtroom Experience.
Since her appointment in 2024, Judge Yang has managed a high caseload with diligence, treating litigants, attorneys, and court staff with courtesy and respect. She has worked to reduce delays, improve courtroom efficiency, and ensure that all who appear before her understand the proceedings.
Representation Matters.
As a Hmong American judge, Judge Yang serves as a visible reminder that the bench can reflect the diversity of the community. She regularly speaks with community groups about the role of the judiciary and the importance of civic participation.
Access
Interpreter services, pro se assistance, and clearer pathways into the justice system.
Efficiency
A courtroom culture focused on preparation, respect, and timely proceedings.
Trust
Public engagement that strengthens confidence in the judiciary.
Support a Judge Who Understands Ramsey County.
Judge Yang is honored to have spent her career serving this community. With your support, she will continue to bring fairness, compassion, and common sense to the courtroom.