Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008

Judge Marilyn Kaman, Hennepin County District Court, is one of 15 finalists for the seven-member United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), part of a new system for the administration of internal justice at the United Nations.  The UNAT will be charged with hearing appeals of decisions on employment disputes from the UN system worldwide.  The UN's Internal Justice Council received 237 applications from professional judges in 55 countries.  Applicants were required to have at least 15 years judicial experience, be of high moral character, serve with full judicial independence, and be subject to a rigorous screening process involving both written and oral examination.

Minnesota Chief Justice Eric Magnuson remarked, "The Minnesota Judicial Branch is proud of the international recognition afforded to our judges, and of the willingness of those judges to serve above and beyond the call.  Judge Kaman is an excellent example of both sources of pride."

Judge Kaman was appointed in 1990 to the Hennepin District Court bench.  In 2002-2003, she served as an international judge for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, where she heard cases involving war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnically-motivated disputes, and trafficking in drugs and human beings.  After completing her work in Kosovo, Judge Kaman returned to her duties as a district court judge in Hennepin County, where she is currently the presiding judge for the Probate and Mental Health Divisions.

Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge James Swenson commented, "Judge Kaman's colleagues on the Hennepin County bench are very proud of this recognition, but not at all surprised, especially considering her stellar work in Kosovo."     

Voting on judicial candidacies will occur during the 63^rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.  The newly elected Appeals Tribunal is proposed to commence on January 1, 2009.

"It is a great honor to be considered as a finalist for judge of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal.  I thoroughly enjoyed my service to the United Nations as an international judge in Kosovo, and would again enjoy the opportunity to serve in a judicial role for the United Nations."

Judge Kaman's bio

More information from the United Nations is at http://www.un.org/reform/mgmt_reform.shtml and http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2F63%2F489&Submit=Search&Lang=E.