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 Tenth Judicial District. This vacancy is created upon the retirement of the Honorable Lawrence R. Johnson and will be chambered at Anoka in Anoka County.
Thomas Lehmann: Mr. Lehmann is a shareholder at Eckberg Lammers, P.C., where he represents businesses, municipalities, and individuals in both civil and criminal matters. Previously, he was the owner and partner at Lehmann & Lutter, P.A., an attorney at LeVander, Gillen & Miller and O’Neill, Burke, O’Neill, Leonard & O’Brien, and was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Thomas J. Kalitowski of the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Honorable J.B. Gunderson of the Tenth Judicial District. Mr. Lehmann serves as the Chair of the Stillwater Area School Board and volunteers as coach of the St. Croix Valley Athletic Association.
Laura A. Pietan: Ms. Pietan is the Deputy City Attorney for the City of St. Paul, where she leads the Criminal Division, supervising the prosecution units and the office's criminal justice innovations. Previously, she was a Senior Assistant St. Paul City Attorney in the Civil Division. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Pietan worked in social services as the Program Manager for Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW). Ms. Pietan serves as Chair of the Ujamaa Place and Better Futures Advisory Committee, and is a member of Minnesota Women Lawyers and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
Robin Wolpert: Ms. Wolpert is an attorney at the Sapientia Law Group, where she handles complex civil litigation, constitutional torts, and white collar criminal defense. Previously, she was an Assistant Washington County Attorney, Senior Counsel of Compliance & Business Conduct at 3M, a partner at Greene Espel, P.L.L.P, an associate at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, and a law clerk to the Honorable Paul H. Anderson and the Honorable James H. Gilbert of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Ms. Wolpert is the Chair of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board and the Immediate Past President of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District consists of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
