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 First Judicial District. The vacancy is created upon the upcoming retirement of the Honorable Diane M. Hanson, and will be chambered at Shakopee in Scott County.

 

Patrick Goggins: Mr. Goggins is a partner at Wornson, Goggins, Neisen, Morris & Brever, P.C., where he has a private general practice. He is also a Defense Counsel at Le Sueur County Drug Court, and previously was an attorney at the First Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, 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.

 

Tanya O’Brien: Ms. O’Brien is an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney, where she prosecutes a variety of felony crimes, including homicides. Previously, she was an Assistant Scott County Attorney and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lynn C. Olson and the Honorable Ellen L. Maas, Minnesota Tenth Judicial District. Ms. O’Brien is the Secretary of the Prior Lake Athletics for Youth Board and is a volunteer at Saint George Eastern Orthodox Church, FOCUS Minnesota, La Ola Del Lago, and Jeffers Pond Elementary School.

 

Paula Duggan Vraa: Ms. Vraa is a partner at Larson King, LLP.  She is a former adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She has served as a no-fault arbitrator for AAA. Previously, she was an attorney at Rider Bennett, LLP, and an appellate law clerk to the Honorable Harriet Lansing and the Honorable Jack Davies, Minnesota Court of Appeals. Ms. Vraa volunteers with the Disability Law Center, the Appeals Self-Help Clinic, and as a volunteer teacher at Junior Achievement.

 

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