ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointments of Theodora K. Gaïtas and Sarah S. West as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. Ms. Gaïtas and Ms. West will be replacing the Honorable Mel I. Dickstein and the Honorable Daniel H. Mabley, and will be chambered at Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

“Ms. Theodora K. Gaïtas and Ms. Sarah S. West have shown great dedication to the betterment of their communities," said Governor Dayton. "I thank them for agreeing to serve their fellow Minnesotans as Judges in the Fourth Judicial District."

Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District consists of Hennepin County.

More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/appointments/judicial-appointments/.

About Theodora K. Gaïtas:
Ms. Gaïtas is an attorney at Matonich Law, where she represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice actions. Previously, she was an Assistant State Public Defender in the Office of the Appellate Public Defender, an Assistant Public Defender in the Second Judicial District, and a law clerk to the Honorable Robert H. Schumacher. She earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Ms. Gaïtas is a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Minnesota Rules of Evidence, Chair of the Jungle Theater Board of Directors, Secretary of the Children of Incarcerated Caregivers Board, and a member of the CAMP! Board.

A headshot of Ms. Gaïtas is attached.

About Sarah S. West:
Ms. West is an Assistant Public Defender at the Fourth Judicial District Office of the Public Defender, where she currently handles juvenile cases involving child protection matters. Previously, she was a Contract Assistant Public Defender at the Fourth Judicial District Office of the Public Defender, partner at Hauble Law, PLLC, an associate at Fafinski, Mark & Johnson, P.A., a transaction manager at Barclays Capital Inc., and a legal assistant at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP. She earned her B.A. from Connecticut College and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Ms. West currently serves as Vice-President and President Elect for the Hennepin County Bar Foundation and is a former member of their Grant Review Committee.

A headshot of Ms. West is attached.