Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a Seventh Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Clay County.  The opening will occur with the retirement of the Honorable William E. Walker on December 9, 2005.  The Supreme Court certified the chambers of this judgeship for the city of Moorhead in Clay County.  The finalists are Lisa N. Borgen, Steven J. Cahill, Kenneth J. Kohler, and Timothy J. McLarnan.

Borgen, of Moorhead, is the Clay County attorney, a position she has held since January 1999.  She is also an adjunct facilitator at the University of Mary in Fargo, North Dakota.  Prior to being elected the Clay County attorney in 1998, she was a solo practitioner in Moorhead, and a contract attorney with Seventh Judicial District public defender's office from 1997 to 1999.  Borgen earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks in 1996, her bachelor of arts degree from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, in 1993, and her licensed practical nurse diploma from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, in1982.

Cahill, of Moorhead, is an attorney and partner with the law firm Pearson, Christensen, Cahill and Clapp in Moorhead, a position he has held since June 2005.  He was an attorney and president of Cahill Law Office in Moorhead from January through May 2005, an attorney and president (since 1994) of the law firm Cahill and Marquart in Moorhead from 1981 through 2004, and an attorney and partner (since 1979) with the Moorhead law firm Cahill, Gunhus, Streed, Grinnell, Jeffries and Klinger from 1975 to 1981.  Cahill earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in1976 and his bachelor of arts degree from Winona State College in 1972.

Kohler, of Moorhead, is the chief assistant Clay County attorney in Moorhead, a position he has held since 2002.  He was the Nobles County attorney as well as an attorney and partner with the law firm Mork, H. Darling, Hagemann and Kohler in Worthington from 1984 to 2002, and an assistant Redwood County attorney in Redwood Falls from 1982 to 1984.  Kohler also served as a judge advocate general with the Minnesota National Guard from 1984 to 1996.  Kohler earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1982 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota - Morris in 1979.

McLarnan, of Moorhead, is a partner with the Moorhead law firm of McLarnan, Hannaher and Skatvold.  He has been an attorney with the firm since 1979.  McLarnan earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1979 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975.

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 10 applications for this judicial vacancy.