Following the news of current City Attorney Jessica Fralich’s appointment to the Sixth Judicial District bench by Governor Tim Walz, Duluth Mayor Roger J. Reinert today announced his selection of Terri Lehr to lead the City Attorney’s office.
Lehr has been the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Duluth for the past four years.
"I am thrilled that Ms. Lehr is willing to step up and into this critical leadership role for the City of Duluth and our community,” said Reinert in a prepared statement. “She has been with us for 22 years, has a diverse legal background, and is incredibly well-respected both internally and outside of the organization. She has served with the last four City Attorneys and knows the role better than literally anyone else."
Lehr received her juris doctorate from the William Mitchell College of Law and has worked 22 years in the City Attorney’s office, both in criminal prosecution and civil division work.
Prior to her work at the City of Duluth, Lehr was the managing attorney for the Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (recently rebranded as Justice North). Lehr is also experienced in litigation, transactional work, and family law.
Lehr previously served on the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch and was a member of the South Saint Louis County DWI Court while working as a prosecutor. Lehr currently serves on the board of the 11th District Bar Association.
“Terri has been a dedicated public servant for over two decades,” said Fralich. “Her nomination to fill the role of City Attorney is a win not just for the office but for the city as a whole.”
Lehr said about the selection, “I am incredibly honored to be nominated for the role and excited about the opportunity to serve in this role and work alongside the administration and the council.”
Lehr’s nomination for the role will be presented to the City Council for a vote at its regularly scheduled meeting on October 28. Her first day of service as city attorney would be November 1.