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 Third Judicial District. By order of the Minnesota Supreme Court, a vacant referee position in the Second Judicial District was transferred to the Third Judicial District, and converted into a district court judgeship. This judgeship vacancy was created upon the retirement of Referee JoAnne Yanish, and will be chambered at Austin in Mower County.
Christa Daily: Ms. Daily is an Assistant Third District Public Defender, where she primarily handles felonies and gross misdemeanors. Previously, she was an Assistant Mower County Attorney, an associate at Adams, Rizzi & Sween, P.A., and an Assistant Stearns County Attorney. Ms. Daily volunteers at Mower County Seniors, Inc., Mower County Habitat for Humanity, and previously volunteered as a Minnesota State High School mock trial coach. She is also the past President of the Mower County Law Library and a member of Women Attorneys of Rochester.
Erin Felten: Ms. Felten is a shareholder at Patton, Hoversten & Berg, P.A., where she mainly handles civil matters including dissolution, adult and child protection, estate planning, and employment law. Previously, she was an associate at Olup and Associates and at Adams, Rizzi & Sween, P.A. Ms. Felten serves on the Applelane Child Care Center Board of Directors, is a member of the Steele County Children’s Justice Initiative, is a volunteer attorney with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and formerly served on the Austin Education Foundation Board of Directors.
Stephanie Haedt: Mrs. Haedt is a shareholder at Peterson, Kolker, Haedt & Benda, Ltd., where she has a general civil practice with an emphasis on employment, family, and business matters. Previously, she was an associate at Cooper Law Firm Chartered. Mrs. Haedt is co-chair of the Worksite Wellness Committee of the Albert Lea Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and the Blue Zones Leadership Team, she is a volunteer attorney with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and a former member and Secretary of the Austin Human Rights Commission.
Minnesota’s Third Judicial District consists of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Counties.
An announcement of the appointments will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
