Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Raymond Krause to the position of Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings. The opening occurred as a result of the resignation of Kenneth Nickolai.

Krause is the assistant commissioner for tax policy for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, a position he has held since January 2003. He was a judge on the Minnesota Tax Court from 1998 to 2003, the dean and a professor of law at Hamline University School of Law from 1994 to 1998, and senior vice president for government and community affairs with The Pillsbury Company and Grand Metropolitan Inc. from 1984 to 1994. Krause earned his juris doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. in 1978 and his bachelor of science degree from Georgetown University in 1973. Krause, 52, resides in Arden Hills with his wife, Janet, and their two children, Nickels, 12, and Nora, 10.

"Ray has the legal background and managerial experience to take on this position," Governor Pawlenty said. "He will continue the sound leadership the Office of Administrative Hearings experienced under former Chief Judge Ken Nickolai."

The Office of Administrative Hearings conducts administrative law hearings for most state agencies and many local governments, as well as all hearings on workers' compensation benefit claims. The office also exercises general supervision over state agency rulemaking.

The Chief Administrative Law Judge must be learned in the law and is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Chief Judge appoints other administrative law judges and compensation judges as necessary to fulfill the duties of the office. The full-time, paid position is for a six-year term that expires on June 30, 2010. The salary is $113,435 annually.