Center City – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Todd R. Schoffelman to a Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Center City in Chisago County. The vacancy occurred with the death of the Honorable Douglas G. Swenson on February 1, 2009.

Schoffelman 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 Chisago County bench will benefit from Todd’s background in criminal law as well as in the civil division of the Sherburne County Attorney’s office,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In addition, he has the work ethic and demeanor to be an outstanding judge.”

Schoffelman is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, where he is secretary of the Public Law Section Executive Committee, co-chair of the Data Practices Subcommittee, and has served on the Professionalism Committee. He is also a member of the 18th District Bar Association, Minnesota Department of Administration Genetic Information Workgroup, and Minnesota County Attorneys Association, where he has participated as a faculty at a number of continuing legal education seminars. He is also a University of St. Thomas Law School mentor, has served as a mock trial judge at Hamline University Law School, was a member of the Andover Community Center Advisory Commission, was a member of the Elk River YMCA Board, and has been active in his church as a Sunday school teacher and a confirmation instructor.

Schoffelman, 41, was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and lives in Andover with his wife, Rachelle, and their two children Ella, 5, and Tyler, 3.