Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Laura Stock Budd to the State Board of Public Defense.

Budd, of Duluth, is a retired small business owner, former nurse, and former nursing instructor at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Budd earned her master of education degree with a health emphasis from the University of Minnesota – Duluth, and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Cincinnati.

Budd has also been active in the Duluth community, having served on a number of committees at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Depot Foundation, a YMCA Trustee, Human Development Center Board of Trustees, Duluth Marshall High School Board of Trustees, United Way, and the Duluth-Superior Symphony Association Board, where she served as president and is an honorary life member.

Budd, who has been a member of the State Board of Public Defense since 1993 and is currently board chair, is reappointed as a public member to another four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

The State Board of Public Defense approves and recommends a budget to the Legislature, and establishes procedures for distribution of state funding for the board, the Office of the State Public Defender, the judicial district public defenders and the public defense corporations. The board also appoints the state public defender and the chief public defenders of the state’s ten judicial districts. The board consists of seven members, including four attorneys appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court and three public members appointed by the Governor.