October 29, 2026
James Jay Rennicke serves as an Associate District Court Judge for the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, presiding over matters before the Court of Central Jurisdiction. He was nominated by Chief Executive Virgil Wind and confirmed by the Mille Lacs Band Assembly during the summer of 2026. With an extensive background in litigation, Judge Rennicke is committed to seeking truth and justice for those who appear before the court.
Judge Rennicke is a member of the National American Indian Court Judges Association and has practiced law since 1982. His legal career includes more than 40 years in private practice, as well as government service. He has served as both a prosecutor and public defender and previously held the position of district attorney in Burnett and Rusk counties in Wisconsin.
He is admitted to practice before numerous courts, including the courts of the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, the United States Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the state courts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He is also admitted to practice before the courts of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
Throughout his career, Judge Rennicke has twice been appointed to public office positions, once by a Republican governor and once by a Democratic governor. These competitive appointments reflect professional recognition across political lines and his commitment to a nonpartisan approach to the law.
Outside his judicial responsibilities, Judge Rennicke is a life member of Gideons International and a lifelong martial artist. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as hunting, fishing, hiking and exploring the outdoors.
