Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Louise Dovre Bjorkman, Michelle A. Larkin, and Lawrence “Larry” B. Stauber, Jr. to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Bjorkman is an attorney and partner in the St. Paul law firm of Larson King, a position she has held since 2005. Previously, she was a Second Judicial District trial court bench judge in Ramsey County from 1998 to 2005, and an attorney and partner with the law firm of Rider, Bennett, Egan and Arundel in Minneapolis from 1985 to 1998. Bjorkman earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1985, and her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1982.

“Louise has an extensive background practicing appellate law and is highly respected by appellate lawyers for her advocacy in this area,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In addition, she has seven years of experience on the district court bench in Ramsey County in a wide variety of areas, which will be of great benefit to her as a Court of Appeals Judge.”

Bjorkman is a member of the American Bar Association, where she currently chairs the Public Relations Committee of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, previously chaired its Appellate Advocacy Committee, and is an American Bar Foundation Fellow. She is also a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, where she is a council member of the Appellate Practice Section and a member of the Judiciary and Fair Response Committee. Bjorkman also serves on the International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, Minnesota Women Lawyers Advisory Board, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, and the Academy of Court Appointed Masters. Bjorkman is a former vice president and a director of the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, a member of the Luther College Advisory Board, Council on Crime and Justice Board, Friends of the Roseville Oval Foundation Board, and sings in her church choir.

Bjorkman will fill an at-large vacancy on the Court of Appeals that will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Bruce D. Willis on September 5, 2008. Bjorkman, 48, was born in Minneapolis, raised in Moorhead, and lives in Roseville with her husband, John, and their daughter, Erika.

Larkin is a Tenth Judicial District trial court bench judge in Wright County, a position she has held since 2005. Prior to that, she was a senior attorney and trial team supervisor (2001-2005), attorney (1992-2001), and law clerk (1991-1992) in the Hennepin County Public Defender’s office. She also worked for the Minnesota House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in the 1989 and 1990 legislative sessions. Larkin earned her juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1992, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1988.

“Michelle impressed me with her intellect and strong work ethic when I appointed her to the district court bench nearly three years ago,” Governor Pawlenty said. “She quickly demonstrated an ability to handle the work of a very busy court and will be an immediate asset to the Court of Appeals.”

Larkin chairs the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Juvenile Delinquency Rules Committee, is the Wright County lead judge for the Children’s Justice Initiative, has served on the Supreme Court’s Task Force on Court Appointed Civil Counsel, Juvenile Justice Services Task Force, and the Advisory Committee on the Amendment of the Juvenile Protection Rules. She has served as a judge with the Minnesota State Bar Association Mock Trial Program, is a mentor with the University of St. Thomas Law Mentor Externship Program, is a member of the Wright County Sober School Advisory Committee, and has been a guest speaker at numerous professional conferences as well as at a variety of community and civic organizations.

Larkin will fill an at-large vacancy on the Court of Appeals that occurred with the resignation of the Honorable Christopher J. Dietzen on February 19, 2008, when he was sworn-in as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Larkin, 41, was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, and lives in Big Lake with her husband, Joel, and their son, Porter, 8.

Stauber 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.

“Larry has a combination of civil law as a private practitioner as well criminal law as a part-time public defender for nearly 30 years,” Governor Pawlenty said. “His professional background along with his service to his community and country will make him a well-rounded addition to the Court of Appeals.”

Stauber is a member of the American Bar Association; Minnesota State Bar Association, where he is a member of the Real Estate, Wills and Trusts Committee; Duluth Bar Association, where he serves on the Judicial Administration Committee; Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association; Duluth Trial Lawyers Association; Commission on Judicial Selection; and the Minnesota Board of Professional Responsibility, where he served as a supervising attorney. He is also a volunteer attorney with the Duluth Volunteer Attorney Program, has served as a district court referee, a MnDOT condemnation commissioner, and a Guardian ad Litem.

Stauber’s community activities include serving on the Grand Lake Township Board, of which he is a past chairman; Greater Proctor Scholarship Foundation Board; National Eagle Scout Association, where he is a local Eagle Scout sponsor; and the Scottish Rite Foundation Board.

Stauber will fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals for a resident of the Eighth Congressional District that occurred with the retirement of the Honorable R. A. “Jim” Randall on April 4, 2008. Stauber, 61, was born in Duluth where he lives with his wife, Cindy. They have two adult daughters, Leah and Erin.

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 19 judges, 11 of whom are at-large, and eight of whom are appointed – one each – from the state’s congressional districts.