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

The first vacancy occurred with the disability retirement of the Honorable Michael A. Young on December 31, 2006. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of this judgeship for the city of Shakopee in Scott County. The second vacancy occurred with the resignation of the Honorable Mary E. Pawlenty effective on February 12, 2007. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of this judgeship for the city of Hastings in Dakota County.

The finalists for the Scott County position are Jerome B. Abrams, Michael A. Fahey, and Patrick T. Skelly. The finalists for the Dakota County position are Ann M. Anaya, Shawn M. Moynihan, and Tim D. Wermager.

Abrams, of Mendota Heights, is an attorney and president of the Minneapolis law firm of Abrams and Smith. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1997. He was an attorney with the Austin and Abrams law firm in Minneapolis from 1988 through 1996, the Austin and Roth law firm in Minneapolis from 1982 to 1988, Schoenberger Legal Clinic in Richfield and Rochester from 1981 to 1982, and a law clerk with the Minneapolis Star Tribune Company in 1981. Abrams earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1981, and his bachelor of arts degree from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1977.

Fahey, of Carver, is the Carver County Attorney in Chaska, a position he has held since 1987. He was an associate attorney and partner with the Chaska law firm of Nicklaus, Monroe and Fahey from 1978 through 1986. Fahey earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from St. Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri in 1978 and his bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from St. John’s University in Collegeville in 1975.

Skelly, of Eagan, is a shareholder and president of the St. Paul law firm of Skelly and Capistrant. He has been an attorney with the firm since 2001. Skelly is also a colonel and deputy director at the National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was an attorney and partner with the law firm of Peters, Jeddeloh and Skelly in St. Paul from 1997 to 2001, an assistant Dakota County Attorney from 1990 to 1997, an associate attorney with the Oppenheimer, Wolff and Donnelly law firm in Minneapolis from 1989 to 1990, and an associate attorney with the Briggs and Morgan law firm in St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1987 to 1989. Skelly earned his juris doctorate degree magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1987, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1979, where he was a distinguished military graduate.

Anaya, of Hastings, is an assistant United States Attorney in the criminal division in Minneapolis, a position she has held since 2002. She was an assistant Ramsey County Attorney from 2000 to 2002, an assistant First Judicial District public defender in Dakota and Goodhue Counties from 1995 to 2000, a defense attorney with the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis in 1994, and a law clerk to then Minnesota Court of Appeals Chief Judge Paul H. Anderson in 1993. Anaya earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1993, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1990.

Moynihan, of Hastings, is an attorney and partner with the Hastings law firm of Fluegel and Moynihan. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1992. He was an associate attorney with the Hastings law firm of Hertogs, Fluegel, Sieben, Polk, Jones, and Laverdiere from 1982 to 1992. Moynihan earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1982 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1977.

Wermager, of Hastings, is an attorney with the Hastings law firm of O’Connell, Wermager and Warg. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1990. He was an attorney with the Law Office of Harry P. Schoen in Hastings from 1982 to 1990. Wermager earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Iowa Law School in 1982, and his bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University in 1979.

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 a total of 48 applications for these two judicial vacancies.