Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the ad hoc screening committee that reviewed résumés and conducted interviews for the upcoming vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable James C. Harten on March 31, 2005. This position is for a resident of the First Congressional District. The finalists are Jill I. Frieders, Judge Bradley C. Walker and Judge Renee L. Worke.

Frieders, of Rochester, is the managing partner with the O'Brien and Wolf law firm in Rochester. Her practice is primarily in the area of family law. Prior to joining the O'Brien and Wolf firm in 1990, Frieders was an associate attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Popham, Haik, Schnobrich and Kaufman from 1988 to 1990, an associate attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Larkin, Hoffman, Daly and Lindgren from 1986 to 1988, and a Fourth Judicial District law clerk for the Honorable Jack Gill from 1984 to 1986. She was also a part-time Fourth Judicial District family court referee from 1985 to 1986. Frieders earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1984 and her bachelor of science degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1981.

Walker, of Mankato, has been a Fifth Judicial District trial court judge chambered in Blue Earth County since 1998. He was an attorney in private practice in Mankato from 1977 to 1998 and also served as the North Mankato city attorney from 1992 to 1998, North Mankato assistant city attorney from 1979 to 1992, Janesville city attorney from 1984 to 1998, and Lake Crystal city attorney from 1979 to 1998. Walker also served in the United States Marine Corps from 1973 until his honorable discharge in 1977. Walker earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1973 and his bachelor of arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter in 1970.

Worke, of Owatonna, is the chief judge of the Third Judicial District. She has been a Third Judicial District trial court judge chambered in Waseca County since 1996 and has been chief judge of the district since 2002 and was assistant chief judge from 2001 through 2002. Prior to her appointment to the bench in 1996, Worke was an attorney with the Owatonna law firm of Rietz, Rietz, Rietz and Worke from 1984 to 1996.

Worke also served as a part-time contract Third Judicial District public defender from 1984 to 1996 and a part-time contract Administrative Law Judge in the child support division from 1994 to 1996. She was a Third Judicial District law clerk for the Honorable Urban J. Steimann in Faribault from 1983 to 1984. Worke earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1983 and her bachelor of science degree magna cum laude from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 1980.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions of trial courts other than conciliation courts except for appeals in election contests, convictions of murder in the first degree and appeals from the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and the Tax Court, which are appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals consists of 16 judges; eight judges who serve at-large, and eight judges who are initially appointed -- one each -- from the state's eight congressional districts.