With the Honorable Judge Dixon in the New Normal

Sitting in front of a judge is like sitting in classroom and hoping the teacher isn't in a bad mood.

There are days when she has her game face on. But now, her game face is covered by a mask.

At 61, Judge Donna Dixon, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jesse Ventura in 2001, can claim to be an "Ventura appointee."

For a small town Kansas native, she made rapid strides after arriving in Warroad to set up a private practice in the 1990s.

During a phone interview in late September, she balked at submitting a photo of her in a mask.

"No," she laughed.

Any trials lately, Judge?

"We have one pla...