Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for two Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancies.

The first vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Kim R. Johnson effective on June 27, 2008. The Minnesota Supreme Court certified the continuation of the chambers of this judgeship for the city of Buffalo in Wright County. The second vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Dan Kammeyer on August 31, 2008. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of the chambers of this position for the city of Anoka in Anoka County. The finalists are James A. Cunningham, Jr., Michele A. Davis, James B. Fleming, John E. Hennen, Mark W. Malzahn, and Thomas N. Price.

Cunningham, of Spring Lake Park, is the commissioner of the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, a position he has held since 2003. He was an assistant Minneapolis city attorney from 1999 to 2003, an assistant district counsel with the Minneapolis Public Schools from 1993 to 1999, an associate attorney with the Rider Bennett law firm in Minneapolis from 1990 through 1992, and a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Charles E. Clevert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1989 to 1990. Cunningham earned his juris doctorate degree (1989) and his bachelor of arts degree (1986) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Davis, of Ramsey, is an assistant Anoka County attorney, a position she has held since 2000. She was an assistant St. Paul city attorney from 1998 to 2000. Davis earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1998, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1993.

Fleming, of Monticello, is a self-employed attorney and a part-time assistant public defender in the Tenth Judicial District Public Defender’s office in Anoka County, positions he has held since 2007. He was an attorney and partner in the Monticello law firm of Metcalf, Larson, Muth and Fleming from 2001 through 2006, a solo practitioner in Monticello from 1994 to 2001, an associate attorney with the Bernick and Lifson law firm in Golden Valley from 1991 to 1994, an attorney and partner in the Dawson and Fleming law firm in Lincoln, Nebraska from 1988 to 1991, and an associate attorney with the Peterson and Nelson law firm in Lincoln from 1984 to 1988. Fleming earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln in 1984, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nebraska – Kearney in 1978. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Fleming held a number of positions in law enforcement in Nebraska from 1972 to 1982.

Hennen, of Woodbury, is a senior defense attorney with the League of Minnesota Cities. He has been an attorney, defense litigation supervisor, and senior defense attorney with the League since 1984, except from 1985 to 1986 when he was an attorney with the Mardell Law Office in Apple Valley. Hennen earned his juris doctorate degree from Syracuse University College of Law in New York in 1983, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1980.

Malzahn, of Elk River, is an attorney with Malzahn and Associates in Anoka, a position he has held since 1983. Malzahn earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1983, and his bachelor of arts degree from St. Cloud State University in 1979.

Price, of Elk River, is an attorney in private practice and a part-time assistant public defender in the Tenth Judicial District Public Defender’s office in Wright County, positions he has held since 2006. Previously, he was an assistant Sherburne County attorney from 1978 to 2006, where he held positions as assistant county attorney, first assistant county attorney, and chief deputy 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.

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 a total of 32 applications for these judicial vacancies.