Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that he has accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Selection for three First Judicial District trial court bench vacancies. These judgeships are new positions created by the 2007 Minnesota Legislature (2007 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 54, Article 1, Section 5), and take effect on January 1, 2008. The Minnesota Supreme Court certified the chambers of these positions as follows: one for the city of Shakopee in Scott County, one for the city of Hastings in Dakota County, and one for the city of Chaska in Carver County.

The finalists are Jerome B. Abrams, Ann M. Anaya, Janet L. Barke Cain, Mark E. Greene, Caroline H. Lennon, 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.

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.

Cain, of Burnsville, is an assistant Carver County Attorney and head of the juvenile division. She has been an assistant Carver County Attorney since 1994, and has also worked in the civil and criminal divisions of that office. Cain was an assistant Minneapolis City Attorney from 1992 to 1994, and a law clerk to Fourth Judicial District Judge Robert G. Schiefelbein in Hennepin County from 1989 to 1992, a law clerk with the St. Paul law firm of Salmen, Brinkman and Martinson from 1988 to 1989, an intern to Chief Federal District Court Judge Donald Alsop in 1987, and a law clerk for the Minneapolis City Attorney’s office from 1985 to 1988. Cain earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1989, and her bachelor of science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1986.

Greene, of Chanhassen, is an attorney and managing shareholder with the Standke, Greene and Greenstein, Ltd. law firm in Chanhassen. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1979. He is also an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and has also been an adjunct professor in the legal studies department at Hamline University in St. Paul, and a mediator and arbitrator in Hennepin County. Greene earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell in 1979, and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975.

Lennon, of Mendota Heights, is an assistant Hennepin County Attorney in Minneapolis, a position she has held since 1990. She has also been appointed as a special assistant county attorney in Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, and Scott counties on individual cases. Lennon was a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s office from 1988 through 1989. Lennon earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1989 and her bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1985.

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 46 applications for these three judicial vacancies.