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 are created upon the retirements of the Honorable B. William Ekstrum and the Honorable Sharon L. Hall. The seat previously held by Judge Ekstrum will be chambered at Anoka in Anoka County, and the seat previously held by Judge Hall will be chambered at Pine City in Pine County.
Suzanne Brown: Ms. Brown is an Assistant County Attorney in the adult felony division of the Scott County Attorney’s Office, where she manages a caseload of various high-level criminal matters. Previously, she was an associate attorney at Colich and Associates where she handled civil work along with criminal defense and prosecution. Additionally, she worked as a member of the Federal Defender’s Conflict Panel and teaches criminal law topics at the Scott County Annual Law Enforcement Training. She also serves on the Community Curriculum Advisory and Key Communicators Committees for Anoka/Hennepin Schools, District 11.
Patrick Flanagan: Mr. Flanagan is a solo practitioner at Flanagan Law Office and a part time Assistant Public Defender in the Tenth Judicial District. In his practice, he handles criminal defense, family law, and civil matters. Additionally, he was appointed to the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel, where he represents indigent clients in Federal Court. Previously, he was the Mower County Attorney, an Assistant Mower County Attorney, and in private practice at Heuer & Vandelist, P.A. Mr. Flanagan is a Professor, teaching criminal justice though the University of Phoenix Master’s Program. He also coaches sixth grade football and basketball in the City of Moundsview.
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 and the Honorable J.B. Gunderson. Mr. Lehmann serves as the Treasurer of the Stillwater Area School Board and volunteers as coach of the St. Croix Valley Athletic Association.
Karin McCarthy: Ms. McCarthy is an Assistant County Attorney in the Washington County Attorney’s Office, where she works in the criminal division primarily handling felony cases. Previously, she was a staff attorney for Tubman, an attorney for the Family Violence Network, associate attorney at Caswell and Associates, and an Adjunct Professor at the William Mitchell College of Law. Ms. McCarthy serves as the Chair of the St. Croix Valley chapter of Minnesota Women Lawyers, is a member of the Alumna Council for St. Catherine University, and the President of the Cottage Grove Public Safety Board.
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.
