The Commission on Judicial Selection today announced that applications are now being accepted for three trial court bench vacancies in the Fourth Judicial District in Hennepin County.

The first vacancy occurred with the resignation of the Honorable Lorie S. Gildea, who was sworn-in as an Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.  The effective date of Judge Gildea's resignation was January 10, 2006.  The second vacancy occurred with the Supreme Court's conversion of a vacant referee position into a new district court judgeship, and the third vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Isabel Gomez on March 15, 2006.

Licensed Minnesota attorneys who are residents of the Fourth Judicial District may request an application for these positions by calling John Hultquist at 651-296-0019, via e-mail at john.hultquist@state.mn.us or by writing:

   Eric J. Magnuson, Chair
   Commission on Judicial Selection
   130 State Capitol
   75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
   St. Paul, MN  55155

All candidates for these vacancies must submit an application.  Applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted to the above address so they are received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2006.

Applicants are asked not to contact the commission members individually, as the nine at-large members and the four district members will conduct interviews at a later date.