Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the ad hoc screening committee that reviewed résumés and conducted interviews for an upcoming Eighth Congressional District vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The opening will occur with the retirement of the Honorable R. A. “Jim” Randall on April 4, 2008. The finalists are Sean M. Quinn, John P. Smith, and Lawrence “Larry” B. Stauber, Jr.

Quinn, of Duluth, is an attorney and partner with the law firm of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn and Beyer in Duluth. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1992. Previously, he was an associate attorney with the law firm of Meshbesher, Birrell and Dunlap in Minneapolis in 1991, an associate attorney with the law firm of Foley and Mansfield in Minneapolis in 1990, and a Minnesota Court of Appeals judicial law clerk from 1989 to 1990. Quinn earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1989, and his bachelor of science degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1986.

Smith, of Nevis, is a Ninth Judicial District trial court bench judge in Cass County, a position he has held since 1991. He was Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial District from 2003 to 2007, and assistant Chief Judge from 2001 to 2003. Previously, Smith was an attorney and partner with the Park Rapids law firm of Smith and Hunter from 1975 to 1991. Smith earned his master of law degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 1987, his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of law in St. Paul in 1975, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Concordia College in Moorhead in 1971.

Stauber, of Duluth, is a senior attorney and managing partner with the Duluth law firm of Stauber and Lien. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1982. Previously, he was a solo practitioner in Duluth from 1977 to 1982, and was also a part-time public defender in Duluth from 1978 to 2006. He also served as an infantry officer in the United States Army from 1971 to 1974. Stauber earned his juris doctorate degree from Chicago Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois in 1977, and his bachelor of arts as well as bachelor of science degrees from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1970.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of trial courts other than conciliation courts except for appeals in election contests, convictions of murder in the first degree and appeals from the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals and the Tax Court, which are appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals consists of 16 judges; eight judges who serve at-large, and eight judges who are initially appointed – one each – from the state’s eight congressional districts. Eleven people submitted their résumés for consideration for this judgeship.