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 Eighth Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Michael J. Thompson, and will be chambered at Glenwood in Pope County.

Aaron Jordan: Mr. Jordan is the Stevens County Attorney, where he is civil counsel and responsible for prosecuting all crimes, including felonies. Additionally, he is the City Attorney for Morris and all cities in Stevens County. Previously, he was an Assistant Cass County Attorney, an Assistant Public Defender for the Eighth Judicial District, and had a private practice. Mr. Jordan serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Committee for the Minnesota County Attorneys Association. He is also Chair of the 16th District Ethics Committee and previously served in the United States Air Force.

Melissa Listug Klick: Ms. Listug Klick is a FlexTime Attorney with Littler Mendelson, P.C., where she assesses employment litigation and makes recommendations regarding litigation strategy. Previously, she was an Associate and Of Counsel with Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton, L.L.P., a Summer Associate at Rider, Bennett, Eagan & Arundel, a clerk with the Office of the General Counsel at the University of Minnesota, and a Federal Judicial Extern for Magistrate Judge Jonathan Lebedoff. Ms. Listug Klick is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Minnesota State Bar Association District 16 and a committee member with Raising Pope County.

Aaron Welch: Mr. Welch is an Assistant County Attorney in Kandiyohi County, where his caseload involves criminal and juvenile matters, civil forfeitures, and child support cases. Previously, Mr. Welch was a judicial law clerk with the Eighth Judicial District and an Associate Attorney at Anderson Larson, P.L.L.P. Mr. Welch is an Adjunct Professor at Ridgewater College, an ethics investigator for the 12th District Bar Association, a member of the Board of Directors for the Willmar Hockey Association, and a den leader for Pack 224 with the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District consists of Big Stone, Chippewa, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkins, and Yellow Medicine Counties.

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