Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for four Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancies. 

Two of the judgeships are new positions created by the 2005 Minnesota Legislature (2005 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 135, Article 14, Section 1), which took effect on July 1, 2005.  The Minnesota Supreme Court has certified the chambers of both of these positions for the city of Buffalo in Wright County.

The other two vacancies are due to the upcoming retirements of the Honorable Stephen L. Muehlberg on September 30, 2005, and the Honorable Gary J. Meyer on October 31, 2005.   The Supreme Court certified the continuation of the chambers of both of these judgeships for the city of Stillwater in Washington County.

The finalists are Suzanne Bollman, B. William Ekstrum, Richard C. Ilkka, Jonathan N. Jasper, Kenneth L. Jorgensen, Kristin C. Larson, Catherine McPherson, Kelley Malone O'Neill, and Michelle A. Tonelli.

Bollman, of Ramsey, is an assistant Sherburne County attorney, a position she has held since 2003.  She was an assistant Stearns County attorney from 1999 to 2003, an assistant St. Cloud city attorney from 1998 to 1999 and an assistant Benton County attorney from 1988 to 1998.  Bollman earned her juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1986 and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1982.

Ekstrum, of Blaine, is an attorney and shareholder with the Fridley law firm of Newquist and Ekstrum, a position he has held since 1987.  Prior to that, he was an attorney with the Fridley law firm of Smith, Juster, Feikema, Malmon and Haskvitz from 1980 to 1987.  Ekstrum earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1979 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1971.

Ilkka, of Oak Park Heights, has been a self-employed attorney in Stillwater since 1990.  He has also been the Oakdale city attorney since 1993.  He was an attorney with the Magnuson Law Firm in Stillwater from 1989 to 1990 and a Tenth Judicial District law clerk in Stillwater from 1987 to 1989.  Ilkka earned his juris doctorate degree (1986) and his bachelor of arts degree (1983) from the University of Minnesota.

Jasper, of Andover, is the managing partner of the law firm of Jasper and Brandt in Anoka.  He has been an attorney with the firm and its predecessors since 1994.  He was an associate attorney with the Berglund and Varco law firm in Anoka from 1993 to 1994 and with the law firm of Rider, Bennett, Egan and Arundel in Minneapolis from 1987 to 1993.  Jasper earned his juris doctorate degree from Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York in 1987 and his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Hamline University in St. Paul in 1984.

Jorgensen, of West Lakeland, is the director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, a position he has held since 2002.  He was the Office's first assistant director from 1993 to 2002, senior assistant director from 1988 to 1993 and assistant director from 1984 to 1988.  Jorgensen earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1984 and his bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University cum laude in 1981.

Larson, of Lino Lakes, is an assistant Anoka County attorney, a position she has held since 1990.  She was an assistant Wright County attorney from 1988 to 1990, executive director, attorney and, volunteer attorney coordinator of Legal Assistance of Dakota County from 1986 to 1988, a staff attorney with Hyatt Legal Services in Bloomington from 1985 to 1986, and a volunteer attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Services in Minneapolis from 1984 to 1985.  Larson earned her juris doctorate degree from George Washington University Law School in 1984 and her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Carleton College in Northfield in 1981.

McPherson, of Ramsey, has been an assistant county attorney in the Anoka County attorney's office since 1999.  Her practice is primarily in the areas of child protection and juvenile delinquency.  She was also an assistant county attorney in the Hennepin County attorney's office from 1994 to 1999.  McPherson earned her juris doctorate degree summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1994, her master's degree in social work from the University of Minnesota in 1990, and her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1985.

O'Neill, of Woodbury, is an assistant Second Judicial District public defender in Ramsey County, a position she has held since 1990.  She was a special assistant Ramsey County attorney for six months from 1989 to 1990, an appellate judicial law clerk for the Honorable Daniel Foley from 1988 to 1989, and a student attorney and chief law clerk for the Second Judicial District public defender's office from 1987 to 1988.  O'Neill earned her juris doctorate degree from Mitchell College of Law in 1988 and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in 1983.

Tonelli, of Andover, is a senior attorney and trial team supervisor with the Fourth Judicial District public defender's office in Hennepin County.  She has been an assistant public defender in the Hennepin County public defender's office since 1992.  Tonelli earned her juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1992 and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1988.

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 a total of 53 applications for these judicial vacancies.