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 Le Sueur County. The vacancy occurred with the death of the Honorable Jean A. Davies on March 25, 2008. The Minnesota Supreme Court transferred the chambers of this judgeship from Carver County to the city of Le Center in Le Sueur County. The finalists are Michael Baxter, Allen P. Eskens, and Jody A. Kieser Kisting.

Baxter, of Rosemount, is an attorney and shareholder with the Baxter Engen, Ltd. law firm in Burnsville, a position he has held since 2003. He was a solo practitioner in Apple Valley from 2000 to 2003, an associate attorney with the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi law firm in Minneapolis from 1991 to 2000, and an associate attorney with the Robbin & Thompson law firm in Wayzata in 1991. Baxter earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1991, and his bachelor of arts degree from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1987.

Eskens, of Cleveland, is an attorney and senior partner with the Eskens, Gibson and Behm law firm in Mankato. He has been an attorney with the firm since 2001, and was previously an attorney and partner with the Rockow Eskens Law Firm in Mankato from 1995 through 2000, an attorney and partner with the Brandt and Eskens Law Firm in St. Peter from 1993 to 1995, and a Fifth Judicial District law clerk in Nicollet County in 1992. Eskens earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1991, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1989.

Kisting, of Savage, is an assistant Scott County Attorney, a position she has held since 2003. She was a staff attorney with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault/Sexual Violence Justice Institute from 2002 to 2003, an assistant Rice County Attorney from 1998 to 2002, a special assistant Dakota County Attorney from 1997 to 1998, and a First Judicial District law clerk in Dakota County from 1996 to 1997. Kisting earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1996, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1991.

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 25 applications for this judicial vacancy.