Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Jonathan N. Jasper and Michelle A. Tonelli Larkin to two Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancies.  These 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 certified the chambers of both of these positions for the city of Buffalo in Wright County.

Jasper 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.

"Jonathan has a great breadth of legal experiences - from practicing civil commercial litigation with a large law firm to a criminal defense practice in a two-person law firm," Governor Pawlenty said.  "In addition, Jonathan's wonderful people skills and sense of humor will be appreciated by those who appear before him."

Jasper is a Supreme Court-appointed member and vice-chair of the State Board of Public Defense.  He is also a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, serving on its Board of Governors and chairing its Young Lawyers' Section from 1993 to 1994; and the Anoka County Bar Association, where he was a member of the Executive Board.  He had also served on the 21st District Bar Association Ethics Committee. 

Jasper is a member of the Andover Planning Commission, Minnesota StandDown (helping indigent veterans find solutions to their legal problems), has been a volunteer Moot Court Judge at Hamline University Law School, and a speaker at law schools and high schools.

Jasper, 42, was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and lives in Andover with his wife, Jenny, and their two daughters, Courtney, 9, and Casey Jo, 7.

Tonelli Larkin 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 Larkin 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.

"Michelle is assigned the most difficult cases that the public defender's office handles, which is a testament to her legal skills," Governor Pawlenty said.  "Her intellect and ability to handle a heavy caseload will be an asset to a very busy bench in Wright County that has an ever-growing caseload."

Tonelli Larkin serves on the Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Delinquency Rules Committee and previously served on the Supreme Court's Task Forces on Court Appointed Civil Counsel, Juvenile Justice Services its and Advisory Committee on the Amendment of the Juvenile Protection Rules.  She has been an instructor for numerous continuing legal education seminars, and volunteers for the University of St. Thomas School of Law mentor program.  Tonelli Larkin is also co-chair of the Church of the Epiphany's Springfest Silent Auction Committee and volunteers for the church's State Fair diner, magazine drive, and marathon.

Tonelli Larkin, 39, was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, and lives in Andover with her husband, Joel Larkin, and their son, Porter, 6.