Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Lisa N. Borgen and Steven J. Cahill to two Seventh Judicial District trial court bench vacancies.  The first judgeship is a new position created by the 2005 Minnesota Legislature (2005 Minnesota Laws, Chapter 135, Article 14, Section 1), which took effect on July 1, 2005.  The second vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable William E. Walker on December 9, 2005.  The Minnesota Supreme Court certified the chambers of both of these positions for the city of Moorhead in Clay County.

Borgen is the Clay County attorney, a position she has held since January 1999.  She is also an adjunct facilitator at the University of Mary in Fargo, North Dakota.  Prior to being elected the Clay County attorney in 1998, she was a solo practitioner in Moorhead, and a contract attorney with Seventh Judicial District public defender's office from 1997 to 1999.  Borgen earned her juris doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks in 1996, her bachelor of arts degree from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, in 1993, and her licensed practical nurse diploma from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, in 1982.

"In her seven years as the Clay County Attorney, Lisa has earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor with a strong work ethic," Governor Pawlenty said.  "She has also established herself as a leader in the legal community, and deeply engaged in the Moorhead community."

Borgen serves on the executive committee of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA) Board of Directors, is president of the Red River Children's Advocacy Center Board of Directors as well as the Clay County Law Library Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Minnesota Internet Crimes Again Children Task Force, Clay County Bar Association, Clay County Children's Justice Initiative Executive Committee, Clay County Multi-disciplinary Child Protection Team, and Clay County Permanency Planning Team.  She has conducted numerous continuing legal education seminars sponsored by the MCAA and the MSBA, and speaks to many community groups on children's issues, including the Drug Abuse and Resistance Education (DARE) graduations.

Borgen, 43, was born and raised in Moorhead, where she lives with her husband, Bradley, and their three children, Michael, 19, Isaac, 12, and CeCe, 9.

Cahill is an attorney and partner with the law firm Pearson, Christensen, Cahill and Clapp in Moorhead, a position he has held since June 2005.  He was an attorney and president of Cahill Law Office in Moorhead from January through May 2005, an attorney and president (since 1994) of the law firm Cahill and Marquart in Moorhead from 1981 through 2004, and an attorney and partner (since 1979) with the Moorhead law firm Cahill, Gunhus, Streed, Grinnell, Jeffries and Klinger from 1975 to 1981.  Cahill earned his juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in1976, his bachelor of arts degree from Winona State College in 1972, and his high school diploma from Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota in 1966.

"Steve has tried dozens of jury trials over his nearly 30 years in practice and has a tremendous reputation in the civil bar," Governor Pawlenty said.  "As a well-respected member of the Moorhead community, he will serve the citizens with humility and dignity as a judge."

Cahill is past president of the Clay County Bar Association, and is a member of the Seventh District Bar Association, where he chairs its Ethics Committee, as well as the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), where he currently serves on its Board of Governors, and has chaired the Court Rules Committee.  He is also past president of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association and the Ronald N. Davies Inn of Court in Fargo, and has served as secretary of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.  Cahill also served on the Minnesota Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on General Rules of Practice, and its Local Rules Task Force.

Cahill is certified as a civil trial specialist by the MSBA Civil Trial Certification Council, and is certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  He holds the highest rating by the Martindale Hubbell legal directory and has been rated a "Super Lawyer" by the American Research Corporation numerous times, including in 2005.

Cahill, 57, was born in Minneapolis, and lives in Moorhead with his wife, Jeri, and their two sons, Jim, 17, and John, 14.