ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending three candidates to Governor Mark Dayton for consideration to fill the current vacancy in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Leland O. Bush, and will be co-chambered at Ivanhoe in Lincoln County and Marshall in Lyon County.
Ronald Seanor: Mr. Seanor is a partner at Stoneberg, Giles & Strop, P.A., where he practices family law, commercial litigation, collections, and criminal defense. Previously, he was a law clerk at the Second Circuit of South Dakota, a legal intern at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, an assistant manager at Cari Rentals, a branch manager at Appliance and Furniture RentAll, and served eight years with the Army National Guard. Mr. Seanor serves as volunteer with the Marshall Amateur Hockey Association, a member of the Atwater Karting Association, and a Cub Scout Den Leader.
Joel Solie: Mr. Solie is an Assistant Public Defender with the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, where he represents clients in a variety of criminal matters. Previously, he was a general solo practitioner and owner at Solie Law Office, a part-time Assistant Public Defender in the Fifth Judicial District, a court appointed CHIPS attorney in the Fifth Judicial District, the Interim City Attorney at the City of Redwood Falls, and a partner at Estebo, Schnobrich, Frank, Solie & Gilk, Ltd. Mr. Solie is former member of both the Redwood County and the Lyon County Drug Court Committees.
Tricia Zimmer: Ms. Zimmer is the Vice President of Human Resources at North Star Mutual Insurance Co., where she handles the company’s compliance on matters of employment law, employee benefits, and human resources. Previously, she was an attorney/consultant at Petersen Law Office, an Assistant Lyon County Attorney, an adjunct professor at Southwest Minnesota State University, and a judicial law clerk for the Fifth Judicial District. Ms. Zimmer is currently a member of the SMSU Foundation Board, a member of the Marshall Police Advisory Board, and a volunteer with United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District consists of Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan Counties.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
