Saint Paul - Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Mr. Robert A. Docherty as a District Court judge in Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. Mr. Docherty will replace the Honorable John R. Rodenberg who was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals earlier this year. This seat will be chambered in New Ulm at Brown County in Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District.

About the appointment Governor Mark Dayton said, "Mr. Docherty comes highly recommended by all who have worked with him; I am confident he will be an excellent judge in the 5th Judicial District."

Mr. Docherty is currently the Managing Attorney in the Mankato office of the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender's Office. Within this role, he serves as the liaison to the courts in three counties, supervises office personnel and maintains an active caseload. Throughout his career, Mr. Docherty has handled a wide variety of civil, criminal, juvenile and appellate cases; serving as an Assistant Public Defender for the Fifth Judicial District and also practicing as an attorney with the Somsen, Schade and Franta law firm in New Ulm. He previously worked as a staff attorney for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He received a B.A. in English from Creighton University in Omaha in 1983, and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul in 1987.

Mr. Docherty regularly volunteers as a New Ulm High School Mock Trial coach and judge. He also served on Our Savior's Lutheran Church Board of Deacons and is a former co-chair of the New Ulm Human Rights Commission. Mr. Docherty resides with his family in New Ulm.

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.

More information on the Commission on Judicial Selection, as well as vacancies it is currently considering, can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/appointments/judicial-appointments/

/governor/assets/Robert_Doherty2012.jpg_tcm1055-95788.jpgA headshot of Mr. Docherty is attached.