On Friday, December 5, 2025, KFGO reported that Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Renee Worke, 67, of Owatonna, is facing a drunken-driving charge following a single-vehicle accident in Steele County. According to Steele County deputies, Worke’s vehicle struck a snowbank near the I-35 overpass in Owatonna.
Responding deputies observed that Worke exhibited signs of intoxication, including glossy eyes and slurred speech. Worke informed the deputies at the scene that she was driving back from a visit with friends in Waseca. She also stated that she had consumed one glass of wine approximately two hours prior to the incident.
A subsequent breathalyzer test administered at the Steele County jail revealed Worke’s blood alcohol content (BAC) to be .16. This level is twice the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle in the state of Minnesota. Worke is now facing charges related to driving under the influence.
Source: KFGO
