Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 11, 1999)  -  The Minnesota Supreme Court today announced the appointment of 22 members to the Commission on Judicial Selection.  The Commission, chaired by George Soule, consists of 49 members; 27 appointed by the Governor and 22 appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court.  The commission includes nine at-large members who address vacancies in all 10 of the State's judicial districts and four members appointed from each district.  The Commission includes attorneys and non-attorneys.

The Commission on Judicial Selection screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the Governor for district court judgeships and Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals vacancies.

Appointed by the Supreme Court to the Commission on Judicial Selection are Joanne E. Benson, Annamarie A. Daley, Glenda Bergeson, Mary L. Cameron, Leonardo Castro, Arthur A. Drenckhahn, Michael J. Ford, Christine Fritsche, Mark W. Gehan, Roxanne Givens Copeland, Joyce M. Grannis, Robin R. Henderson, Steven E. Hettig, Michael S. Jordan, Edward J. Matonich, Roger L. Metz, Mahlon C. Schneider, Raymond H. Schulte, Barbara M. Swanson, John J. Ursu, Jenny L. Walker, and Willie Mae Carey Wilson.

Benson, St. Cloud/St. Paul, is the President and Chief Education Officer of the Business Immersion School in St. Paul.  Benson is appointed as an at-large public member.

Daley, Minneapolis, is a partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi.  Daley is appointed as an at-large attorney member.

Bergeson, Fertile, is a member of the school board for the Fertile-Beltrami School District.  Bergeson is appointed as a Ninth Judicial District public member.

Cameron, Duluth, is the Director of Student Employment at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.  Cameron is appointed as a Sixth Judicial District public member.

Castro, Mankato, is the Chief Public Defender for the Fifth Judicial District.  Castro is appointed as a Fifth Judicial District attorney member.

Drenckhahn, Warren, is a shareholder with Drenckhahn & Williams, P. A.  Drenckhahn is appointed as a Ninth Judicial District attorney member.

Ford, St. Cloud, is an associate and shareholder with Quinlivan & Hughes.  Ford is appointed as a Seventh Judicial District attorney member.

Fritsche, Marshall, is a former teacher and former board member of the Minnesota State University Board.  Fritsche is appointed as a Fifth Judicial District public member.

Gehan, St. Paul, is a partner with Collins Buckley Sauntry & Haugh.  Gehan is appointed as a Second Judicial District attorney member

Givens Copeland, Bloomington, is the retired President and Founder of Legacy Management and Development Corporation.  Copeland is appointed as a Fourth Judicial District public member.

Grannis, is a shareholder with Grannis & Grannis, P.A.  Grannis is appointed as a First Judicial District attorney member.

Henderson, Granite Falls, is a member of the Granite Falls City Council and Community Center Board.  Henderson is appointed as an Eighth Judicial District public member.

Hettig, Olivia, is a partner with Kraft, Walser, Hettig, & Honsey, PLLP.  Hettig is appointed as an Eighth Judicial District attorney member.

Jordan, Apple Valley, is a Public Information Coordinator with the City of St. Paul, Police Department.  Jordan is appointed as a First Judicial District public member.

Matonich, Hibbing, is the principle of Matonich & Persson, Chartered.  Matonich is appointed as a Sixth Judicial District attorney member.

Metz, Minnesota City, is an adjunct faculty member at Winona State University and former CEO of Winona Community Memorial Hospital and Convalescent & Rehabilitation Unit.  Metz is appointed as a Third Judicial District public member.

Schneider, Austin, is the Vice President and General Counsel at Hormel Foods Corporation.  Schneider is appointed as a Third Judicial District attorney member.

Schulte, Little Falls, is the President of Little Falls Machine, Inc.  Schulte is appointed as a Seventh Judicial District public member.

Swanson, Forest Lake, is the Director of the Youth Service Bureau in Forest Lake.  Swanson is appointed as a Tenth Judicial District public member.

Ursu, Minneapolis, is the General Counsel and Senior Vice-President - Legal Affairs at 3M Corporation.  Ursu is appointed as a Fourth Judicial District attorney member.

Walker, Coon Rapids, is the Chief Public Defender in the Tenth Judicial District.  Walker is appointed as a Tenth Judicial District attorney member.

Wilson, St. Paul, is the President and CEO of the St. Paul Urban League.  Wilson is appointed as a Second Judicial District public member.

Governor Ventura's 27 appointments to the Commission were named Wednesday, February 3, 1999.