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 Fourth Judicial District. These vacancies will occur upon the retirements of the Honorable Mel I. Dickstein and the Honorable Daniel H. Mabley, and will be chambered at Minneapolis in Hennepin County.
Theodora Gaitas: Ms. Gaitas 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, where she worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the Second Judicial District. She was also a law clerk to the Honorable Robert H. Schumacher. Ms. Gaitas 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.
Christopher Renz: Mr. Renz is a partner at Chesnut Cambrone, P.A., where he practices civil litigation and serves as the chief prosecutor for the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Additionally, he is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. Previously, he was CEO and an attorney at Thomsen & Nybeck, P.A, law clerk at Allina Health Systems, and served with the Volunteer Lawyer’s Network for Federal Cases. Mr. Renz is a Team Manager with Minneapolis United Soccer Club, a block co-organizer with National Night Out, and was a co-founder of Friends of Armatage Montessori Pre-Kindergarten.
Rachna Sullivan: Ms. Sullivan is a shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., where she serves as the lead lawyer in commercial litigation cases. Previously, she was a partner at Rider Bennet LLP, law clerk to the Hon. James M. Rosenbaum, former Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and an Assistant District Attorney at the King’s County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Sullivan is a director of the Minnesota Chapter Infinity Project, a director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, and the Co-Chair and co-founder of the Leadership Summit on Gender Equity in the Law.
Sarah 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. 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.
Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District consists of Hennepin County.
An announcement of the appointments will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
