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 was created upon the retirement of the Honorable Robert D. Walker, and will be chambered at Fairmont in Martin County.

Nicholas Anderson: Mr. Anderson serves as the Cottonwood County Attorney. As county attorney, he is responsible for handling criminal, juvenile delinquency, and child protection matters. Previously, he was a solo practitioner at Nicolas Anderson Law office and also served as the Assistant Cottonwood County Attorney. Mr. Anderson frequently volunteers as a judge for mock trial competitions and with Windom's National Night Out Program.

Mark Betters: Mr. Betters is a shareholder and president at Betters Wienandt Attorneys at Law, Ltd., where his practice focuses on family law and criminal defense matters. Previously, he served as a public defender for the Fifth Judicial District, where he handled felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases. Mr. Betters is the assistant coach of a Mankato youth hockey team and is a volunteer musician at Crossview Covenant Church.

Michael Trushenski: Mr. Trushenski serves as the Assistant Martin County Attorney, where he primarily handles felony and gross misdemeanor prosecution. He also is an associate attorney at Viesselman and Barke, P.A, practicing in family and bankruptcy law, personal injury, and probate matters. Mr. Trushenski is the president of the Martin County Law Library Committee, past president of the Seventeenth District Bar Association, and serves on the Martin County Youth Foundation Board.

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.