Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for a Tenth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Washington County. The vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable John E. Cass on February 2, 2007. The Minnesota Supreme Court certified the continuation of this vacancy for the city of Stillwater in Washington County. The finalists are Richard C. Ilkka, Kristin C. Larson, and Louis Thayer.

Ilkka, of Oak Park Heights, has been a self-employed attorney in Stillwater since 1990. He has also been the Oakdale city attorney since 1993. He was an attorney with the Magnuson Law Firm in Stillwater from 1989 to 1990 and a Tenth Judicial District law clerk in Stillwater from 1987 to 1989. Ilkka earned his juris doctorate degree in 1986 and his bachelor of arts degree in 1983 from the University of Minnesota.

Larson, of Lino Lakes, is an assistant Anoka County attorney, a position she has held since 1990. She was an assistant Wright County attorney from 1988 to 1990, executive director, attorney and, volunteer attorney coordinator of Legal Assistance of Dakota County from 1986 to 1988, a staff attorney with Hyatt Legal Services in Bloomington from 1985 to 1986, and a volunteer attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Services in Minneapolis from 1984 to 1985. Larson earned her juris doctorate degree from George Washington University Law School in 1984 and her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Carleton College in Northfield in 1981.

Thayer, of Dellwood, is the assistant chief judge with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Appeals Division, a position he has held since 2006. He has been a DHS judge since 2000, and was also an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul from 1998 through 2005. Previously, Thayer was a DHS staff attorney from 1996 to 2000, a legal analyst in DHS’s Child Support Division from 1994 to 1996, a reference attorney for West Publishing in Eagan from 1993 to 1994, and a judicial law clerk with the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 1992 to 1993. Thayer earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1992, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1989.

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 30 applications for this judicial vacancy.