Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Shaun R. Floerke to 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.

Floerke 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.

"Shaun has a unique practice in the civil division of the St. Louis County Attorney's office, but his background also includes work in civil litigation and in criminal prosecution," Governor Pawlenty said. "St. Louis County Attorney Alan Mitchell describes Shaun as having 'comprehension of the law, organizational skills, work ethic, legal abilities, and integrity'. These are some of the qualities that will make him an outstanding district court judge."

Floerke is a member of the Eleventh District Bar Association and the Minnesota State Bar Association, where he serves as a judge with the mock trial program. He is also an active member of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, through which he has lectured on ethics and the elimination of bias, conflict of interest, and data management and published DWI Forfeitures in Minnesota and County Attorney's Statutory Duties. Floerke is also a youth leader with Duluth Harvester Church and a volunteer with Youth Alive, Inc.

Floerke, 39, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, grew up in Platteville, Wisconsin and resides in Duluth with his wife, Sara, and their five children, Merit, 9, Connor, 7, Cole, 5, Curran, 3, and Mercedes, 7 months.