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

The first vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable Dennis J. Murphy on November 7, 2005.  The second vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable John M. Roue on January 31, 2006.  The Supreme Court certified the chambers of both of these positions for the city of Crookston in Polk County.

The finalists are Michael L. Jorgenson, Philip K. Miller, Jeffrey S. Remick, Alan G. Rogalla, and Tamara L. Yon.

Jorgenson, of Thief River Falls, is an attorney and president of the Charlson and Jorgenson law firm in Thief River Falls.  He has been president of the firm since 2000.  He was an attorney and partner with the law firm's predecessor, Charlson, Marben and Jorgenson from 1990 to 2000, and an associate attorney with that firm's predecessor, Charlson and Marben from 1987 to 1990.  Jorgenson earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1987, and his bachelor of arts degree from North Dakota State University in Fargo in 1984.

Miller, of Williams, is the Lake of the Woods County attorney in Baudette, a position he has held since December 1997.  He was an assistant Lake of the Woods County attorney from September through November 1997, an assistant Redwood County attorney from 1996 to 1997, and an assistant St. Paul city attorney from 1991 to 1996.  He was also a Second Judicial District law clerk for the Honorable Margaret Marrinan in 1991, and a certified student attorney with the Ramsey County attorney's office from 1988 to 1991.  Miller earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1990, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Cloud State University in 1986.

Remick, of Crookston, is an attorney and partner with the Odland, Fitzgerald, Reynolds and Remick law firm in Crookston.  He has been a partner with the law firm since 1995, and an associate attorney with the firm's predecessor, Odland, Fitzgerald and Reynolds, from 1990 to 1994.  He was also an associate attorney with the Reed and Pond law firm in Mound from 1989 to 1990.  Remick earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1989, and his bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from Concordia College in Moorhead in1985.

Rogalla, of Thief River Falls, is an assistant county attorney and the chief prosecutor in the Pennington County attorney's office, a position he has held since 1999.  He was an assistant Pennington County attorney as well as a private practice attorney with the Olin Law Office in Thief River Falls from 1990 to 1999, and an assistant Grand Forks city attorney as well as a private practice attorney with the Nelson, Kalash, Molenaar Law Office in Grand Forks, North Dakota, from 1988 to 1990.  Rogalla earned his juris doctorate degree (1988), and his Bachelor of Science degree cum laude (1985) from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Yon, of Crookston, is an attorney and partner with the Johannson, Rust, Yon, Stock and Rasmussen law firm in Crookston, a position she has held since 1999.  She was an associate attorney with the firm from 1994 to 1999.  Yon has also been a Chapter Seven trustee - based in Crookston - with the United States Department of Justice since 2003, and an adjunct professor with the University of Minnesota in Crookston since 1999.  Yon earned her juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota Law School in Grand Forks in 1994, and her bachelor of arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead in 1991.

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 12 applications for these two judicial vacancies.