Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Diane R. Alshouse and Robert A. Awsumb to two Second Judicial District trial court bench vacancies in Ramsey County.  The first vacancy occurred with the Supreme Court's conversion of a vacant referee position into a district court judgeship. The second vacancy occurred as a result of the resignation of the Honorable Louise Dovre Bjorkman on April 8, 2005.  Thirty-nine people applied for these positions.

Alshouse is a managing attorney in the Ramsey County Public Defender's office in St. Paul.  She has been an assistant Ramsey County public defender since 1985, except from 1997 to 1998, when she was an assistant county attorney in the Hennepin County attorney's office in Minneapolis.  Alshouse earned her juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1984, and her bachelor of arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1970.

"In her 20 years in the Ramsey County Public Defender's office, Diane handles the types of cases that make up the vast majority of what a district court judge oversees," Governor Pawlenty said.  "She has handled her caseload expeditiously and treated her clients with respect.  I know she will continue that tradition as a judge."

Alshouse is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), the Ramsey County Bar Association (RCBA), and the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  She currently serves on the MSBA's Executive Council of the Public Law Section and served on the RCBA's Ethics Committee.  Alshouse volunteers for United Hospital, Companion Animal Assisted Therapy and Last Chance Forever, a birds of prey conservancy.  She is a member of the White Bear Area Choral Association, the Women of Today Service Club, and was president of the Como Zoo docents as well as chair and founder of Como Zoo's Nature Walk Program.

Alshouse, 57, was born in Lebanon, Indiana and resides in Roseville.  She has one adult son, Eric Rasmussen.

Awsumb is the chief manager, attorney and mediator with R.A. Awsumb and Associates in St. Paul, a position he has held since 1998.  He has also been an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul since 1993.  Awsumb was the president and founding attorney of Rambow and Awsumb in Bloomington from 1991 to 1998 and an attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Rider, Bennett, Egan and Arundel from 1986 to 1991.  Awsumb earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell in 1986 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1982.

"Bob had a civil law practice and also serves as a mediator.  He also has done an extensive amount of pro bono law work for indigent clients throughout the state," Governor Pawlenty said.  "I know Bob has the brainpower to sort through the complex issues of any case that may come before him as a judge, as well as the compassion for individuals who appear before him."

Awsumb is an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution neutral, a member of the American Arbitration Association, the American, Minnesota State, and Ramsey County Bar Associations (RCBA), and is a member of the RCBA Board of Directors.  He is an associate member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association.  He holds Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's preeminent rating, and has been rated a "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law and Politics every year since 2000.  Awsumb is also a trustee for the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, volunteers for the Greater Twin Cities United Way, and is a member of the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Awsumb, 45, was born in St. Paul where he currently resides with his wife, Lisa Nasseff Awsumb and his son, Andrew, 14.