Duluth – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of John E. DeSanto to a Sixth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in the city of Duluth in St. Louis County. The vacancy is as a result of the Minnesota Supreme Court’s conversion of a vacant court referee position into a district court judgeship.

DeSanto is an attorney in private practice in Duluth. He was an assistant St. Louis County Attorney in Duluth from 1973 to March 2008 and served as chief prosecutor in charge of the criminal division from 1976 to 2007. He was also a faculty member at the Bemidji State University Honorable James E. Preece Trial Advocacy School from 1982 to 2001, and has taught law enforcement classes to students at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. DeSanto earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1973, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota – Duluth in 1968.

“John has a wealth of experience in criminal law and has held leadership positions in the county attorney’s office, which will be a tremendous benefit to the bench and managing the heavy caseload the Duluth courts handle,” Governor Pawlenty said.

DeSanto is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association; Duluth YMCA Community Services Committee; Christians in Commerce International, of which he is a past president of the Duluth Chapter; an attorney volunteer with the Volunteer Attorney Program in Duluth; and is a prison fellowship volunteer at Federal Prison Camp in Hermantown. He has been a speaker at numerous continuing legal education, Minnesota County Attorneys Association, and law enforcement training seminars, and addressed Duluth school students about criminal prosecution annually for 30 years. He is also a past board president of the Union Gospel Mission of Duluth, former member of the Kiwanis Club of Duluth, former board member of the Duluth YMCA Friendship and Brotherhood Association (now Mentor Duluth), and is active in his church.

DeSanto, 62, was born in Duluth where he lives with his wife, Lana. They have three adult children, Amy Felix, Abby, and Adam.