Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for three Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancies certified by the Minnesota Supreme Court for the city of Anoka in Anoka County. The vacancies are as a result of the retirements of the Honorable Kenneth L. Jorgensen on January 6, 2009; the Honorable David E. Doyscher on January 31, 2009; and the Honorable Stephen J. Askew on July 31, 2009.

The finalists are Suzanne Bollman, Robert D. Goodell, John E. Hennen, Bethany A. Fountain Lindberg, Stephen R. Nicol, Daniel A. O’Fallon, Todd Schoffelman, and Dyanna L. Street.

Bollman, of Ramsey, is an assistant Sherburne County attorney, a position she has held since 2003. She was an assistant Stearns County attorney from 1999 to 2003, an assistant St. Cloud city attorney from 1998 to 1999 and an assistant Benton County attorney from 1988 to 1998. Bollman earned her juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1986, and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1982.

Goodell, of Coon Rapids, is an assistant Anoka County attorney, a position he has held since 1986. He was an assistant Washington County attorney from 1984 to 1986, an assistant State Public Defender from 1979 to 1980 and again from 1982 to 1984, an associate attorney with the Douglas W. Thomson Law Firm in St. Paul in 1981, and the director of the police in-service training project with the Minnesota County Attorneys Council in 1978. Goodell earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1977, his master’s degree in music from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1972, and his bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota in 1969.

Hennen, of Woodbury, is a senior defense attorney with the League of Minnesota Cities. He has been an attorney, defense litigation supervisor, and senior defense attorney with the League since 1984, except from 1985 to 1986 when he was an attorney with the Mardell Law Office in Apple Valley. Hennen earned his juris doctorate degree from Syracuse University College of Law in New York in 1983, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1980.

Lindberg, of Anoka, is the Family Law Division chief attorney in the Anoka County Attorney’s office, a position she has held since 2005. Previously, she was the Child Support Enforcement Unit chief attorney in the Anoka County Attorney’s office from 2002 to 2005, an assistant Anoka County attorney from 1999 to 2001, and an attorney with the Swanson Law Firm in Grand Marais from 1997 to 1999. Lindberg earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1997, her bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University in 1989, and her associate of arts degree from Rochester Community College in 1985.

Nicol, of Otsego, is an attorney and partner with the Anoka law firm of Nicol and Greenley, a position he has held since 1990. He was also the Chief Anoka Public Defender from 1990 to 1995. Previously, he was an attorney with the Columbia Heights law firm of Barna, Guzy, Merrill, Hynes and Giancola from 1983 to 1990, where he also served on its board of directors from 1989 to 1990, and a law clerk to Tenth Judicial District Judge Kenneth Maas in Washington County from 1982 to 1983. Nicol earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in 1983, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1977.

O’Fallon, of Lino Lakes, is an attorney and partner with the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, LLP law firm in Minneapolis. He has been a partner with the firm since 1993, and an associate attorney from 1988 to 1993. Previously, he was an attorney with the Morrison and Foerster law firm in Washington, D.C. from 1986 to 1988. O’Fallon earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1985, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1982.

Schoffelman, of Andover, is an assistant Sherburne County attorney, a position he has held since 2002. He was an assistant Bloomington city attorney from 2000 to 2002, a reference attorney with West Publishing in Eagan in 2000, an assistant Pine County attorney from 1997 to 2000, and a Second Judicial District law clerk in Ramsey County from 1993 to 1997. Schoffelman earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1994, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1991.

Street, of Ramsey, is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm of Fabyanske, Westra, Hart and Thomson in Minneapolis. She has been a shareholder with the firm since 2005, and an associate attorney from 2001 to 2005. Previously, she was an associate attorney with the law firm of Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak and Pikala in Minneapolis from 1996 to 2000, and a law clerk to Tenth Judicial District Judge Ellen Maas in Anoka County from 1995 to 1996. Street earned her juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1994, and her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from St. Cloud State University in 1990.

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 49 applications for these judicial vacancies.