Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a First Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Scott County. The vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable William F. Thuet on June 30, 2008. The Minnesota Supreme Court transferred the chambers of this judgeship from Dakota County to the city of Shakopee in Scott County. The finalists are Mark E. Greene, Caroline H. Lennon, and Charles J. Noel.

Greene, of Chanhassen, is an attorney with the Bernick, Lifson, Greenstein, Greene and Liszt law firm in Minneapolis, a position he has held since 2008. Prior to its merger with Bernick and Lifson, he was an attorney with the Standke, Greene and Greenstein, Ltd. law firm in Chanhassen from 1979 through 2007, where he had served as managing shareholder. He is also an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and has been an adjunct professor in the legal studies department at Hamline University in St. Paul, as well as a mediator and arbitrator in Hennepin County. Greene earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell in 1979, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975.

Lennon, of Mendota Heights, is an assistant Hennepin County Attorney in Minneapolis, a position she has held since 1990. She has also been appointed as a special assistant county attorney in Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, and Scott counties on individual cases. Lennon was a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s office from 1988 through 1989. Lennon earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1989 and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1985.

Noel, of Mendota Heights, is an attorney and president of Charles J. Noel and Associates in Eagan, a position he has held since 1997. He was an attorney, shareholder and partner with the Pustorino, Pederson, Tilton and Parrington law firm in Edina from 1989 to 1997, an attorney and partner with the Hanson, Noel and Lulic law firm and its predecessors in Minneapolis from 1977 to 1989. Noel earned his juris doctorate degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois 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 30 applications for this judicial vacancy.