Professor Stras clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Professor Stras then worked at the D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood for one year, after which he clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court.

Professor Stras was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2010. Professor Stras was elected to a six-year term in 2012. He is believed to be the first practicing Jewish justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was on Donald Trump's list of potential Supreme Court justices.

He will be teaching a Supreme Court Seminar during the 2021 Fall semesters.