Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Todd W. Westphal to a Fifth Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in the city of St. Peter in Nicollet County.  The vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable Warren E. Litynski on June 30, 2005.  Fourteen people applied for this position.

Westphal is a shareholder with the St. Peter law firm of Mackenzie and Gustafson and an assistant Nicollet County attorney.  He has been an attorney with the firm and an assistant county attorney since 1989, and was a Fifth Judicial District judicial law clerk in Worthington from 1987 to 1989.  Westphal earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1987 and his bachelor's degree in music from Minnesota State University - Mankato in 1983.

"Todd has a tremendous combination of civil and criminal experience.  He has a wealth of trial experience, and is also a well-rounded person, with interests ranging from playing hockey to being a violinist in a symphony orchestra," Governor Pawlenty said.  "His professional background, combined with his interests outside the legal profession, will serve him well as a judge."

Westphal is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota County Attorneys Association, St. Peter Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  He is a board member and second vice-president of the St. Peter Hockey Association, a violinist with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, and a board member of the St. Peter Education Foundation.  He has also served as president of the St. Peter Lutheran Church and School, head coach of the mite level of Minnesota Showcase Hockey, a member of the St. Peter Heritage Preservation Commission, St. Peter Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the St. Peter Library, St. Peter Jaycees, and has been a St. Peter High School Mock Trial coach.

Westphal, 45, was born in Waseca and resides in St. Peter with his wife, Lisa, and their three sons, Ben, 12, Noah, 10, and Isaac, 6.