Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for two Ninth Judicial District trial court bench vacancies. The first opening is as a result of a new judgeship created by the 2007 Minnesota Legislature (2007 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 54, Article 1, Section 5), which takes effect on January 1, 2008. The second vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Frederick J. Casey on March 12, 2008. The Supreme Court has certified the chambers of both of these positions for the city of Brainerd in Crow Wing County.

The finalists are Erik J. Askegaard, Kristine R. DeMay, Earl E. Maus, and Jay E. Sommer.

Askegaard, of Brainerd, is an attorney and partner with the Brainerd law firm of Askegaard and Robinson, a position he has held since 1991. He was an associate attorney with the Jeffries, Olson and Flom law firm in Moorhead from 1987 to 1991, and a law clerk to North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Herbert L. Meschke in Bismarck from 1986 to 1987. Askegaard earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1986, and his bachelor of science business administration degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota in 1982.

DeMay, of Merrifield, is an assistant Crow Wing County Attorney in Brainerd, a position she has held since 1997. She was an attorney with the Fitzpatrick, Nelson and Ten Eyck law firm and an assistant city attorney in Brainerd from 1996 to 1997, a Seventh Judicial District law clerk in Detroit Lakes from 1995 to 1996, and worked in the Washington County Public Defender’s office in Stillwater in 1995. DeMay earned her juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in 1995, and her bachelor of science degree from Illinois State University in Normal in 1990.

Maus, of Walker, is the Cass County Attorney, a position he has held since 1986. He was an assistant Cass County Attorney from 1984 to 1986, an assistant Beltrami County Attorney in 1983, and a law clerk in Ramsey County in 1982. Maus earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1982, and his bachelor of arts degree from St. Cloud State University in 1977.

Sommer, of Walker, is the managing attorney in the Ninth Judicial District Public Defender’s office in Walker, a position he has held since 1996. He was a full-time assistant public defender in Walker in 1995, an attorney in private practice in Pine River as well as a part-time Ninth Judicial District Public Defender in Walker from 1988 to 1995, and a self-employed attorney in Elk River from 1986 to 1987. Sommer earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1986, and his bachelor of science degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1982.

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 17 applications for these judicial vacancies.