ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending three candidates to Governor Mark Dayton for consideration to fill the upcoming vacancy on Minnesota’s Supreme Court. This vacancy is occurring upon the retirement of Associate Justice Christopher J. Dietzen on August 31, 2016.
Chief Judge Edward J. Cleary: Judge Cleary was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 2011 and in 2013, was appointed as the Court’s Chief Judge. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, he was the Assistant Chief Judge for the Second Judicial District. He has also served as the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and practiced law for 20 years, concentrating on criminal defense and civil litigation. Judge Cleary is a past president of the Ramsey County Bar Association and served on the Minnesota State Bar Association Governing Council. In addition, Judge Cleary served as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School from 2000-2012.
Judge James B. Florey: Judge Florey is a District Court Judge in the Sixth Judicial District, where he has served as Chief Judge from 2006-2012 and Assistant Chief Judge from 2004-2006. Prior to his appointment, he was an Assistant St. Louis County Attorney for 15 years and a staff attorney at Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota. Judge Florey is the previous Vice-Chair and current member of the Minnesota Judicial Council, a member of the State E-Court Steering Committee, and a former member of the Special Redistricting Panel.
Judge Anne K. McKeig: Judge McKeig is a District Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District. Prior to her appointment, she worked as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Child Protection Division, where she specialized in Indian Child Welfare cases. Judge McKeig has also been a part-time staff attorney for the American Prosecutors Research Institute and is currently a trainer for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Judge McKeig is currently an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, a member of the Speakers Bureau for the National Child Protection Training Center, and current chair of the Board of the Division of Indian Work.
An announcement of Governor Dayton’s fifth appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
