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 Sixth Judicial District. This vacancy was created upon the retirement of the Honorable John E. DeSanto, and will be chambered at Duluth in St. Louis County.

Jill Eichenwald Cornwell: Ms. Cornwell is a Managing Attorney in the Sixth Judicial District Public Defender's Office, where she manages personnel issues, assigns cases, and maintains a caseload of adult misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony cases. Previously, she was an Assistant Public Defender in the Sixth Judicial District, an adjunct instructor at the College of St. Scholastica, and a solo practitioner at the Eichenwald Law Office. Ms. Eichenwald is a trainer for the Head of the Lakes Crisis Intervention Training Collaborative and the Secretary of the Board of Directors for Center City Housing Corporation.

Terri Port Wright: Ms. Port Wright is a solo practitioner at the Port Wright Law Office, where she practices in the areas of family law, criminal defense, child protection, and probate work. Previously, she was an attorney in the Sixth Judicial District Public Defender's Office, the Executive Director of the Sugarloaf Interpretive Center Association, and the Staff Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety for Continental Airlines. Ms. Port Wright is member of the Carlton County Children's Justice Initiative Committee and a former member of the Esko Community Education Committee.

Shawn B. Reed: Mr. Reed is an attorney and shareholder at Maki and Overom, Ltd., where his practice includes criminal defense and prosecution work, general civil litigation, and appellate work. He also serves as the prosecuting attorney for the City of Hermantown and previously was a law clerk at Hughes and Costello and Flatley Law Services. Mr. Reed is a former board member of the Esko Educational Foundation, Inc.; a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland; a board member of the Floy, Gilman Scheidler Scholarship Foundation, Inc.; and, a board member of the Paul Staudenmaier Boys and Girls Club of Duluth Foundation.

Minnesota's Sixth Judicial District consists of Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties.

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