Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Joseph A. Evans to a Seventh Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in Becker County. The vacancy will occur with the retirement of the Honorable Thomas P. Schroeder on October 26, 2007. The Minnesota Supreme Court continued the chambers of this position for the city of Detroit Lakes in Becker County.

Evans is the Becker County Attorney, a position he has held since 1994. He was an assistant Becker County Attorney from 1976 through 1993 as well as an associate attorney (1976 through 1977) and shareholder (1978 through 2001) with the Detroit Lakes law firm of Benshoof, Hummel and Sinclair. Evans earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Washington Law School in Seattle in 1976, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1973.

“Joe has a depth and breadth of experience to handle the cases that will come before him as a judge in a thorough yet expeditious manner,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In addition, he is a person of tremendous fairness and respect for all people appearing before him.”

Evans is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), National District Attorneys’ Association, Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA), and Becker County Bar Association. He has served as a mock trial judge and a member of the MSBA ethics committee, president of the Becker County Bar Association, and a member of the MCAA ethics and Indian law committees. He is also a member and past president of the Detroit Lakes Rotary, a member of the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Becker County Historical Society, Holy Rosary Church, Detroit Lakes Sports Boosters, and has been a member of the Detroit Lakes Jaycees, Elks, and Youth Hockey Association, where he served as president.

Evans, 56, was born and raised in Detroit Lakes where he currently lives with his wife, Jean. They have two sons, John, 23, and Mark, 21.