From 1996 to 1997, Menendez served as a
law clerk for Judge
Samuel James Ervin III of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She became an assistant federal defender in 1999 and served in the Office of the
Federal Public Defender for the District of Minnesota until 2016.
United States magistrate judge In March 2016, Menendez was selected as a
United States magistrate judge to replace retiring Judge Jeffrey J. Keyes. She was sworn in on April 28. Her service as a magistrate terminated upon her elevation as a district court judge.
District court service On September 8, 2021, President
Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Menendez to serve as a
United States district judge of the
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. On September 20, her nomination was sent to the Senate. Biden nominated Menendez to the seat vacated by Judge
Joan N. Ericksen, who assumed
senior status on October 15, 2019. On November 3, 2021, a hearing on her nomination was held before the
Senate Judiciary Committee. On December 2, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 15–7 vote. On December 17, the
United States Senate invoked
cloture on her nomination by a 49–21 vote. On December 18, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–21 vote. She received her judicial commission on December 21, 2021.
Notable cases On March 31, 2023, Menendez struck down Minnesota age limits on carrying firearms. On April 24, 2023, following an emergency motion filed by Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Jacobson and various county sheriffs, Menendez granted a stay on the order, effectively putting a pause on the ruling. The Minnesota Attorney General appealed the ruling to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and on July 16, 2024, it affirmed her ruling. On January 26, 2026, Menendez heard oral arguments in a case brought by Minnesota against the United States to curtail
ICE operations in the state. The case was heard after
Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents on January 24 while protesting ICE activities in Minnesota. While acknowledging their use of racial profiling and excessive force, Menendez ruled that ICE operations may continue at full speed in Minnesota. == References ==