Karl Procaccini is an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Governor Tim Walz appointed Karl to the Supreme Court in August 2023. Karl's legal career before his appointment included public service, private practice, and law-school teaching.

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Karl grew up in Connecticut with his mother, brother, and sister. His mother worked for decades as a nurse and instilled in her children an admiration for public service and civic engagement. Karl's hard work as a public school student prepared him to earn a college degree at Harvard.

 

While in college, Karl met his wife, Nayla. Upon their graduation, they moved to Nayla's hometown of Cairo, Egypt, where Karl worked as a history and band teacher, and he earned his master's degree in international and comparative law. Karl then attended Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude and serving as an editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal.

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After law school, Karl and Nayla moved to Minnesota. Karl began his legal career there, as a law clerk to two federal judges—Judge Diana E. Murphy of the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and Chief Judge Michael J. Davis of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

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Karl then entered private practice and eventually became a partner at Minneapolis law firm Greene Espel. He represented a wide range of clients—individuals, non-profit organizations, and companies—in courts in Minnesota and nationally. He also had a significant pro bono practice, providing free legal services to individual clients, working to preserve election integrity in Minnesota, and vindicating citizens' rights. Karl was repeatedly recognized for his dedication to pro bono work by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

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Karl left private practice to pursue public service, becoming General Counsel in the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor in 2019. As Governor Walz remarked upon Karl's appointment, “With steadiness, humility, and an exceptional legal mind, Karl Procaccini navigated Minnesota through one of the most difficult periods in our history.” Karl won recognition from Minnesota Lawyer and the Minnesota State Bar Association for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd.

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Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, Karl taught at both the University of St. Thomas School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law).

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Karl's commitment to his community is broad and extensive. He has led a number of legal groups, including a section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and has also served as a volunteer writing coach for Minneapolis public school students.

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Karl and Nayla live in Minneapolis. They enjoy biking in the summer and exploring Minnesota's trails in the winter.