Chaska – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Janet L. Barke Cain to a new First Judicial District trial court bench judgeship in Carver County. This judgeship is one of seven district court judgeships created by the 2007 Legislature (2007 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 54, Article 1, Section 5) that take effect on January 1, 2008. The Minnesota Supreme Court certified the chambers of one position for the city of Chaska in Carver County.

Cain 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.

“Janet has established herself as a leader in the legal community in Carver County and the State,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Her tremendous combination of professional legal skills, work ethic, and leadership will be a great asset to the bench.”

Cain is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, and has served on the Court’s Juvenile Delinquency Rules, Children’s Justice Initiative, and Sentencing Forms Committees. She is also a member of the First Judicial District Equal Justice Committee; Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA), where she serves on the MCAA Juvenile Law Committee; Carver County Child Protection Team; Carver County Multidisciplinary Case Consultation Team; Carver County Child Mortality Review Panel; Carver County JUSTUS Committee; Carver County Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee; Independent School District 112 Middle School Initiative; and District 191 Community Education Advisory Council. She has also presented lectures at continuing legal education seminars; and has been a volunteer, fundraiser and speaker at local schools, her church, and civic organizations.

Cain, 43, was born in St. Paul, and lives in Burnsville with her husband, David, and their two sons, Daniel, 15, and Luke, 12.