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 Warren R. Sagstuen on September 14, 2010. The finalists are Thomas S. Arneson, Dana Banwer, Patrick D. Robben, Charles H. Salter, and Mary R. Vasaly.

Arneson, of Minneapolis, is a senior assistant Hennepin County Attorney, a position he has held since 2007. He has been an assistant Hennepin County Attorney since 1991 and was a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s office from 1988 to 1990. He also served as a law clerk to Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice A. M. “Sandy” Keith from 1990 to 1991, and was a summer associate with the Luther, Ballenthin and Carruthers law firm in Minneapolis in 1989. Arneson earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1990, and his bachelor of business administration degree with distinction from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1986.

Banwer, of Minneapolis, is an assistant Minneapolis City Attorney, currently in the civil division. She was the deputy Minneapolis City Attorney 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.

Robben, of Minnetonka, is the general counsel to the Office of the Governor, a position he has held since 2009. Previously, he was an attorney with the Morrison, Fenske and Sund law firm in Minnetonka from 2007 to 2009, an associate attorney (2000 to 2005) and partner (2005 to 2007) with the Rider Bennett law firm in Minneapolis, an associate attorney with the Briggs and Morgan law firm in Minneapolis from 1999 to 2000, and a law clerk to Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Joan Ericksen Lancaster from 1998 to 1999, and a summer associate with Briggs and Morgan in 1997. Robben earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1998, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1995.

Salter, of Minnetonka, is an assistant Hennepin County Attorney, a position he has held since 1983. He was a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s office from 1981 to 1983, and a law clerk in the Hubbard County Attorney’s office in the summers of 1979 and 1980. Salter earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1981, and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1978.

Vasaly, of Edina, is an attorney and partner with the Maslon, Edelman, Borman and Brand law firm in Minneapolis. She has been an attorney with the firm since 1984 and a partner since 1993. She has also been an attorney in the Minnesota State Public Defender’s office from 1983 to 1984, and a law clerk with the Honeywell, Inc. Office of General Counsel in Minneapolis from 1982 to 1983. She was also a staff nurse at the Hennepin County Medical Center from 1977 to 1982. Vasaly earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1983, her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1980, and her associate of arts degree in nursing from Normandale Community College in Bloomington in 1978.

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 27 applications for this judicial vacancy.