Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for two trial court bench vacancies in the Fourth Judicial District in Hennepin County. The vacancies are as a result of the retirement of the Honorable Pamela G. Alexander on June 6, 2008, and the upcoming retirement of the Honorable E. Anne McKinsey on October 3, 2008. The finalists are Michelle A. Hatcher, Karen A. Janisch, Joseph R. Klein, and Thomas M. Sipkins.

Hatcher, of Brooklyn Park, is an assistant Hennepin County Attorney, a position she held from 2001 to 2004 and again since 2005. From May 2004 to March 2005, she was an associate attorney at the Rider Bennett law firm in Minneapolis. She was also an assistant Scott County Attorney in Shakopee from 1999 to 2000, and a law clerk to Fourth Judicial District Judge Mary E. Steenson Dufresne from 1998 to 1999. Hatcher earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in May 1998, and her bachelor of arts degree in criminology from the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario in 1994.

Janisch, of Minneapolis, is general counsel to the Governor, a position she has held since 2003. Previously, she was an associate attorney (1993 through 1998) and partner (1999 to 2003) with the Rider Bennett, Egan and Arundel law firm in Minneapolis, and a judicial law clerk to Idaho State Supreme Court Justice Byron J. Johnson from 1992 to 1993. Janisch earned her juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1992, and her bachelor of arts degree in government cum laude from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph in 1987.

Klein, of Minnetonka, is an attorney with Corrine L. Evenson and Associates in Roseville, where he serves as house counsel for Progressive Group of Insurance Companies. He has been an attorney with the firm since 2006. Previously, he was a contract attorney with Universal Underwriters Group in Edina from 2005 to 2006, an attorney with Zurich North American Insurance from 2004 to 2005, a quality assurance supervisor with Medical Evaluations, Inc. in Minneapolis from 2000 to 2003, and an attorney and shareholder with the Moss and Barnett law firm in Minneapolis from 1987 to 2000. Klein earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986, his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1982, and his associate of arts degree from Rochester Community College in 1979.

Sipkins, of Edina, is an attorney and partner with the Minneapolis law firm of Maslon, Edelman, Borman, and Brand, a position he has held since 2004. Previously, he was an attorney and shareholder with Halleland Lewis, Nilan, Sipkins and Johnson in Minneapolis from 1996 to 2004, an attorney and shareholder with Popham, Haik, Schnobrich, Kaufman and Doty in Minneapolis from 1986 to 1996, an attorney and partner with Peterson, Popovich, Knutson and Flynn in St. Paul from 1977 to 1986, a city of St. Paul staff attorney from 1975 to 1977, and a staff attorney with the United States Renegotiation Board in Washington D.C. from 1973 to 1975. Sipkins earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1973, and his bachelor of arts degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1969.

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 40 applications for these judicial vacancies.