Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Gail Chang Bohr, Chalip Chacon-Bonilla, Brenda Pautsch, and Judge Kathryn N. Smith and the reappointment of Sarah Dixon and Kari Schuch to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC).

Bohr, of St. Paul, is the executive director of Children's Law Center of Minnesota, which provides representation for children in juvenile court through its approximately 150 volunteer lawyers. She also serves on the Children's Justice Initiative Committees of both Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. Bohr replaces Judge Robert Birnbaum, who resigned, to complete a four-year term that expires on January 3, 2005.

Chacon-Bonilla, of St. Louis Park, is a 16-year-old student at St. Louis Park Senior High School. Chacon-Bonilla replaces Peter Aurich as a youth member for a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2008.

Dixon, of Faribault, is the director of the Minnesota Promise Fellows SERVE Minnesota program, and serves on the Minnesota Alliance with Youth statewide coordinating team. Dixon, who has been a member of JJAC since 2002 and is currently vice-chair of the committee, is reappointed to a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2008.

Pautsch, of Gaylord, is a juvenile probation agent supervisor with the Blue Earth County Community Corrections and was previously a juvenile probation agent in Sibley County. She is also a member of the Gaylord City Council. Pautsch replaces Paul Kiltinen, who resigned, to complete a four-year term that expires on January 2, 2006.

Schuch, of Bloomington, is a career and labor market information specialist with the Department of Employment and Economic Development and an evaluation consultant with The Improve Group in Minneapolis. Schuch, who has served one four-year term on JJAC, is reappointed as a youth member to another term that expires on January 7, 2008.

Smith, of Willmar, is a district court judge in the Eighth Judicial District in Kandiyohi County and chairs the Minnesota Supreme Court's Juvenile Delinquency Rules Committee. Smith replaces Jaime Reyes for a four-year term that expires on January, 7, 2008.

The Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee awards grants and carries out the state plan of the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The committee consists of 18 members appointed by the Governor.