Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a Fourth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Hennepin County. The vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable H. Peter Albrecht on December 31, 2009. The finalists are Dana Banwer, Frank J. Magill, Jr., and Rachna Sullivan.

Banwer, of Minneapolis, is an assistant Minneapolis City Attorney, currently in the civil division. She was the deputy Minneapolis City in the criminal division from 2002 to January 2009, and was an assistant Minneapolis City Attorney from 1991 to 2002. Previously, she was the manager of business and legal affairs with Simitar Entertainment from 1990 to 1991, and a corporate counsel with Unisys Corporation/Convergent Business Systems, Inc’s legal affairs department from 1987 to 1990. Banwer earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1986, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1978.

Magill, of St. Louis Park, is counsel to the United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Minnesota, a position he has held since August 2009. He was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota from 2008 to August 2009, first assistant U.S. Attorney from 2007 to 2008, chief of its economic crimes section from 1998 to 2007, an assistant U.S. Attorney from 1990 to 1998, and a civil litigation associate attorney with the Dorsey and Whitney law firm in Minneapolis from 1985 to 1990. Magill earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 1985, and his bachelor of science degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University in 1981.

Sullivan, of Edina, is an attorney and shareholder with the Fredrikson and Byron law firm in Minneapolis, a position she has held since 2006. She was an associate attorney and partner with the Rider Bennett law firm in Minneapolis from 1999 to 2006, a law clerk for United States District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum in Minneapolis from 1998 to 1999, and an assistant Kings County District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York from 1996 to 1998. Sullivan earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1996, and her bachelor of business administration degree cum laude from Pace University in New York, New York 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 34 applications for this judicial vacancy.