Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for three trial court bench vacancies in the Tenth Judicial District. These openings are as a result of the retirement of the Honorable Joseph Quinn on June 30, 2006, the upcoming retirement of the Honorable James A. Morrow on August 2, 2006, and the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Edward W. Bearse on December 12, 2006. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of these three positions for the city of Anoka in Anoka County. The finalists are Thomas M. Fitzpatrick, Tammi A. Fredrickson, Catherine McPherson, Douglas B. Meslow, Thomas N. Price, and Barry A. Sullivan.

Fitzpatrick, of Anoka, is an attorney and partner with the law firm of Randall, Goodrich and Fitzpatrick in Anoka. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1986. He was an attorney with the law firm of Burke and Hawkins in Coon Rapids from 1983 to 1985 and an assistant Blue Earth County Attorney in Mankato from 1981 to 1983. Fitzpatrick earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1981, and his bachelor of science degree with honors from St. Cloud State University in 1975.

Fredrickson, of Coon Rapids, is the Coon Rapids City Attorney, a position she has held since 2005. She was an assistant Coon Rapids City Attorney from 1995 to 2005, and an associate attorney with the law firm of Morrison and Fenske in Edina from 1992 to 1995. Fredrickson earned her juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1992, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1987.

McPherson, of Ramsey, has been an assistant county attorney in the Anoka County attorney’s office since 1999. She was also an assistant county attorney in the Hennepin County attorney’s office from 1994 to 1999. McPherson earned her juris doctorate degree summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1994, her master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota in 1990, and her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1985.

Meslow, of White Bear Lake, has been an attorney and partner with the law firm of Meslow and Olson in White Bear Lake since 1997, and is serving his second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Meslow was a solo practitioner in White Bear Lake from 1995 to 1997, an attorney and partner with the Geck and Meslow law firm in White Bear Lake from 1992 to 1995, an associate attorney with the law firm of Sweeney and Bohrer in St. Paul from 1988 to 1992, an associate attorney with the law firm of Salmen and Brinkman in St. Paul from 1985 to 1988, and an associate attorney with the law firm of Moss and Barnett in Minneapolis from 1984 to 1985. Meslow earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1984 and his bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1981.

Price, of Plymouth, is an attorney in private practice and a part-time Tenth Judicial District assistant public defender, positions he has held since April 2006. From 1978 to 2006, he held a number of positions in the Sherburne County attorney’s office, including chief deputy and first assistant county attorney. Price was also an attorney with the MacGibbon-Danforth Law Firm in Elk River from 1980 to 1984, a Wright and Sherburne County misdemeanor prosecutor from 1978 to 1979, and has served as a special appointed prosecutor for Anoka, Benton, Stearns, and Wright counties. Price earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1977 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1972.

Sullivan, of Coon Rapids, is an associate attorney with William G. Hawkins and Associates law firm in Anoka, a position he has held since 1988. He was an attorney and partner with the law firm of Stockman, Sullivan and Sadowski in Coon Rapids from 1983 to 1988. Sullivan earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1983, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1980. 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 31 applications for these judicial vacancies.