Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in the city of Center City in Chisago County. The vacancy is as a result of the death of the Honorable Douglas G. Swenson on February 1, 2009. The finalists are Suzanne Bollman, John E. Hennen, and Todd Schoffelman.

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.

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.

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.

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 39 applications for this judicial vacancy.