Sara Gonsalves Appointed 4th Judicial District Administrator
For immediate release
Minneapolis, Minn. (August 22, 2022) -- Jury summonses, warrants, extradition papers, and other court documents in Hennepin County will soon bear a new signature. Judges in the Fourth Judicial District have appointed Sara Gonsalves as the judicial district administrator for Hennepin County District Court. The appointment was approved by the Minnesota Judicial Council on Thursday, August 18.
Gonsalves will replace Sarah Lindahl-Pfieffer, who left the Fourth district for a district administrator role in the Tenth Judicial District. Gonsalves was sworn in Friday, August 19.
“We are excited to have Sara start in her new role,” said Fourth District Chief Judge Toddrick Barnette. “Sara brings a wealth of experience, knowledge of our district, and a practical common-sense approach to leadership. We look forward to her innovative ideas throughout our court functions and commitment to continue our work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
“I am proud to have been chosen for this important work and excited to get started!” Gonsalves said. “Along with my education, the experience I have gained through various leadership roles in the district has given me a clear sense of what our customers need and want when they interact with the court. I look forward to hearing more from Hennepin County residents and customers on how we can improve the court experience.”
Gonsalves joined the Minnesota Judicial Branch in 2011. She started with the State Court Administrator's Office as the Sexual and Domestic Violence case analyst. In 2014, she became the manager of the Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) Program, overseeing the Statewide Self Help Center and two walk-in Self Help Centers located in the Fourth Judicial District. In 2017, she became the Deputy District Administrator over Operations in the Fourth Judicial District. Prior to joining the Judicial Branch, Gonsalves worked for Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. She earned her law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
As judicial district administrator, Gonsalves will oversee court administration staff in Hennepin County in support of a full range of court operations for the district court, including processing and management of all records and files of the court, as well as providing services to the public, other county offices, and the judiciary. District administrators are required and governed by state statute.
About Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District
The Fourth Judicial District consists solely of Hennepin County. Seventy-five judicial officers serve the district, which is the largest of Minnesota's 10 judicial districts
For more information, visit the Web site at www.mncourts.gov/district/4/.
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