Meet St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford

Melanie Ford became St. Louis County Attorney in 2006—the first woman ever elected to the position.

Since her election, Melanie has focused on such critical issues as curbing crime through reducing school truancy, promoting racial equality, and undertaking juvenile justice reform. She is also working with law enforcement, school representatives, and others to keep them informed about the services the County Attorney’s office provides.

Melanie Ford began her public service career while attending William Mitchell College of Law, when she worked at the Ramsey County Public Defender’s office in juvenile delinquency and criminal arraignments. She also served as interim Executive Director of La Oportunidad, a nonprofit agency that helps Hispanic offenders and others reenter the community after prison.

Melanie rounded out her experience during law school by working as well at the Minnesota State Auditor’s office investigating and advising on allegations of misfeasance of public officials and by serving on the City of Minnetonka Charter Commission. She graduated magna cum laude from William Mitchell in 1995.

After passing the bar exam, Melanie worked for three years as an Assistant St. Louis County Attorney and then for the next eight years ran her own law firm.

Melanie Ford continued to serve the public, offering legal services to nonprofit organizations and holding leadership roles on numerous boards of directors of area nonprofits. For example, Melanie served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Duluth Art Institute, as the President of the Board of Directors of St. Ann’s Residence, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters. (Please see Melanie's full resume, below.).

Prior to her legal career, Melanie worked in commodities trading for Cargill Incorporated, holding supervisory positions, setting budgets, and managing risk. Although Melanie had launched a promising career at Cargill, she felt drawn to public service after witnessing the adverse effects of U.S. agricultural policies on the peoples of third world countries. Melanie turned to the study of law in order to establish a solid background for work in public advocacy.

Melanie Ford, age 54, lives with her husband Dan in Normanna Township. She has an adult daughter, Diana, of whom she is very proud. Her beloved son, Paul, died in an accident in August of 2009.

Melanie enjoys the tranquility of country life. Her hobbies include playing the alto saxophone, curling, sailboat racing, snowshoeing, and watching the wild birds that come to her feeders.

Melanie Ford in Eveleth at the Northland Women's Policy Forum
November, 2009

In Melanie’s Own Words

“As County Attorney, my commitment is to make St. Louis County safer, to be active in the community and sensitive to citizens’ concerns, and to ensure laws are being applied impartially regardless of economic status, race, or other potentially discriminatory characteristics.  

I want the citizens of St. Louis County to know what the County Attorney’s office can do for them. And I have been an advocate for the citizens of St. Louis County in front of the County Board of Commissioners, judges, and our state’s lawmakers.
                                       
It has been my goal to seek fair and equitable treatment for all, and as part of that effort I am working to reduce the disproportionate number of minorities who are incarcerated. Late in 2008, I convened a conference of people involved in St. Louis County’s juvenile justice system to talk about how the system could be improved. A large group of organizations and individuals has since then joined this effort, and I’ve successfully acquired funding and technical assistance for our Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs.

Our JDAI study is under way, and a major goal will be to keep youth who are in trouble at home in their own community and out of detention whenever feasible. Incarceration is expensive, and studies show that youth who are confined often go on to have greater problems. To bring the community into this JDAI project, I’ve met with each school board in the entire County and asked for their participation.

I continue as well to work with area agencies and businesses to create and implement programs that will make St. Louis County a safer place to live and work. I’ve spoken to many groups and at community events to raise awareness about drug use and the importance of keeping kids in school. I’ve helped implement a tutoring program for chronically truant students and worked to create “problem-solving courts,” an alternative to jail that can help offenders find life-long solutions to drug addiction and other problems, reduce risk to their families, and cut taxpayer costs.

I have also reduced the budget of the County Attorney’s office by lowering expenses and finding more cost-efficient ways to run the office.

As a lawyer, manager, business owner, community leader, and now County Attorney, I’ve used my professional skills to handle the administrative needs of the office and bring new technologies and practices into the workplace. And I’ve brought a leadership style that encourages collaboration.

I continue to look for additional ways to serve the County even better. If you have ideas, please be sure to get in touch.”

Melanie Ford

Resume

MELANIE S. FORD
ATTORNEY, LICENSED IN MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN,
AND FEDERAL DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

• St. Louis County Attorney, St. Louis County, Minnesota. January 2007-present
• Melanie Ford Attorney at Law, PLLC. 1999-2007
• Assistant St. Louis County Attorney. 1995-1998
• Various Law Clerk Positions. 1992-1995
• La Oportunidad, Inc., Interim Executive Director. 1993
• Cargill, Inc., Commodities Trader. 1979-1992
  

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

• Coalition to Advance Racial Equity, Member
• Rotary Club of Duluth, Member
• League of Women Voters Duluth, Member and Past Director
• St. Ann’s Residence, Past President of Board of Directors
• Duluth Art Institute, Past President of Board of Directors
• Twin Ports Wind Orchestra, Musician and Past President of Board of Directors
• St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Board, Past Director
• Progressive Action, Member
• La Oportunidad, Inc., Past President
• Minnetonka Charter Commission, Past Member and Secretary
• Mizpah United Church of Christ, Past Director
• Sunnarborg Health Foundation, Past Director

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• District 11 and Range Bar Association
• Wisconsin State Bar Association

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• YWCA Leadership Award “Woman of Distinction” - 2008
• Blandin Community Leadership Program - 2008
• Women Candidate Development Coalition Lucy Hahn – Barbara Stuhler Political Courage Award - 2007