ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending four candidates to Governor Mark Dayton for consideration to fill the current vacancies in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District. These vacancies will occur upon the retirements of the Honorable Susan R. Miles and the Honorable Gary R. Schurrer. Judge Miles’ seat will be chambered at Stillwater in Washington County and Judge Schurrer’s seat will be chambered at Elk River in Sherburne County.
Suzanne Brown: Ms. Brown is a Senior Assistant Scott County Attorney, supervising the Adult Criminal and Juvenile Divisions, and maintaining her own criminal caseload. Previously, she was an Assistant Scott County Attorney in the Adult Criminal Division, a Federal Public Defender on the Federal Defender’s Conflict Panel, and an associate attorney at Colich and Associates, where she also served as Assistant St. Louis Park City Attorney. Additionally, she teaches criminal law topics at the Scott County Annual Law Enforcement Training. Ms. Brown also serves on the Community Curriculum Advisory and Key Communicators Committees for Anoka/Hennepin Schools, District 11.
Juanita Freeman: Ms. Freeman is a Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Adult Prosecution Division, where she manages a team of attorneys and maintains her own felony caseload. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline College of Law, teaching advocacy to online and traditional students. Previously, she was a Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Child Protection Division and an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Adult Prosecution Division & Gang Team. Ms. Freeman serves on the board of Mitchell Hamline’s Gateway to Legal Education, and volunteers at Red Rock Elementary and Epiphany Covenant Church.
Laura 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.
Karen Schommer: Ms. Schommer is the Deputy Criminal Chief of the Major Crimes and Priority Prosecutions Sections of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, where she supervises attorneys and prosecutes criminal cases. Previously, she was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division for the Southern District of West Virginia and an Associate at Robinson & McElwee P.L.L.C. Ms. Schommer is a member of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the secretary of the Northwest Shores Homeowners’ Association, and a volunteer at Northpoint Elementary and Feed my Starving Children.
Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District consists of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties.
An announcement of the appointments will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
