Saint Paul -- The Commission on Judicial Selection today announced three finalists for a Sixth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in the city of Duluth in St. Louis County. The opening occurred with the retirement of the Honorable Carol M. Person on February 29, 2004. The finalists are Charles B. Bateman, Kathleen S. Bray and Shaun R. Floerke.

Bateman, of Saginaw, is an attorney and shareholder with the Duluth law firm of Reyelts, Leighton, Bateman, Hylden and Sturdevant. He has been an attorney with the firm and its predecessors since 1982. He was an associate attorney with the Hanft Fride law firm in Duluth in 1981 and an associate attorney with the Graham and James law firm in San Francisco, California from 1975 to 1980. Bateman earned his juris doctorate degree (1975) and his bachelor of arts degree (1971) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Bray, of Duluth, is an attorney and shareholder with the Duluth law firm of Hanft Fride. She has been an attorney with the firm since 1991. Bray earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1991 and her bachelor of science degree cum laude from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado in 1988.

Floerke, of Duluth, is a senior assistant attorney in the civil division of the St. Louis County Attorney's office in Duluth. He has worked in the St. Louis County Attorney's office since 1997. From 1996 to 1997 Floerke was an associate attorney with the law firm of Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith and Frederick in Duluth. He was a lead prosecutor with the Steele County Attorney's office in Owatonna as well as an attorney and partner in the Owatonna law firm of Ruth, Schreiner, Long and Floerke from 1992 to 1996. Floerke earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1992 and his bachelor of arts degree with honors and distinction from the University of Wisconsin in Madison 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 20 applications for this judicial vacancy.