Tanya M. Bransford has served as a District Court Judge in Hennepin County District Court since 1994. Judge Bransford currently manages a caseload of felony drug and property cases and worked as the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge from 2006-2008. As the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, she led the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, which dramatically reduced the numbers of young people in detention, while preserving public safety. Prior to her appointment, she was the first black woman to serve as a District Court Referee for Hennepin County's Juvenile Division, and the first black female Workers' Compensation Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings. Judge Bransford began her legal career in private practice working in the areas of personal injury, criminal defense and workers' compensation.