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 First Judicial District. These vacancies were created upon the retirement of the Honorable M. Michael Baxter and the United States Senate’s confirmation of the appointment of the Honorable Erica H. MacDonald as United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. These seats will be chambered at Hastings in Dakota County.

Patrick Goggins: Mr. Goggins is a partner at Wornson Goggins, P.C., where he is a general practitioner and serves as defense counsel with Le Sueur County Drug Court. Previously, he was an Assistant First District Public Defender and a law clerk in the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. Mr. Goggins is a member of the St. Wenceslaus Grade School Board, former president of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce and the Eighth District Bar Association, and a youth coach for both the New Prague Hockey and Baseball Associations.

Martin Fallon: Mr. Fallon is a partner at Maslon, L.L.P., handling complex commercial litigation. Previously, he was an associate at Maslon, Edelman, Brand, and Borman, L.L.P., an associate at Faegre & Benson, L.L.P., and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David S. Doty, United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Mr. Fallon has been a mentor at St. Thomas School of Law and serves on the Ramsey County Historical Society Board, the St. Joseph’s Church Parish Finance Council, and the North Hennepin Community College Paralegal Program Advisory Board.

Tracy Perzel: Ms. Perzel is the Criminal Division Chief at the United States Attorney’s Office, where she leads and supervises 40 Assistant United States Attorneys, implements division wide policy, and prosecutes and oversees the prosecution of federal criminal cases. Previously, she was an Assistant Attorney General at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and an Assistant County Attorney at the Kandiyohi County Attorney’s Office. Ms. Perzel is a teacher at Easter Lutheran Church, a packing volunteer with Feed My Starving Children, and a volunteer at Red Pine Elementary.

Vicki Vial Taylor: Ms. Vial Taylor is a Senior Assistant County Attorney in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office Adult Prosecution Division, where she leads the Gang Team and prosecutes serious violent felonies. Previously, she was an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an Assistant Carver County Attorney. In these roles, she has also represented the State of Minnesota in juvenile delinquency, child protection, foster care licensing, and childcare licensing matters. Ms. Vial Taylor was recent panelist on the National Institute of Justice Prosecutors Advisory Panel.

Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley Counties.

An announcement of the appointments will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.