Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a Seventh Judicial District trial court bench vacancy. The opening occurred with the resignation of the Honorable Kathleen A. Weir on January 4, 2005. The Supreme Court certified the chambers of this judgeship for the city of Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County. The finalists are Barbara R. Hanson, Timothy J. McLarnan, and Luke M. Seifert.

Hanson, of Fergus Falls, is an assistant Otter Tail County attorney, a position she has held since 1984. Hanson earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1984, her bachelor of science degree cum laude from Bemidji State University in 1977, and her associate of arts degree from Fergus Falls Community College in 1975.

McLarnan, of Moorhead, is a partner with the Moorhead law firm of McLarnan, Hannaher and Skatvold. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1979. McLarnan earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1979 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975.

Seifert, of St. Cloud, has been an attorney and shareholder with the law firm of Quinlivan and Hughes in St. Cloud since 1998. He was a solo practitioner in St. Cloud from 1987 to 1998, an associate attorney with the Holmen Law Office in St. Cloud from 1983 to 1987, and a committee administrator with the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1980 to 1982. Seifert earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1983 and his bachelor of arts degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1979.

The Commission on Judicial Selection screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the Governor for district court vacancies that occur during the term of a judge. The commission consists of 13 members: nine at-large members and four members from the judicial district. The commission members include attorneys and non-attorneys appointed by the governor and the Minnesota Supreme Court. The commission received 13 applications for this judicial vacancy.