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 Third Judicial District. This vacancy occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Jeffrey D. Thompson, and will be chambered at Rochester in Olmsted County.

 

Jacob Allen: Mr. Allen currently serves as the Managing Attorney of the Third Judicial District Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, where he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the office and represents clients in criminal proceedings. Previously, he was a partner at O’Brien & Wolf, L.L.P., owner and attorney at Allen & Associates, L.L.C., an Assistant Third Judicial District Public Defender, and a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Joseph F. Wieners, Third Judicial District. Mr. Allen is a volunteer with the Schaeffer Academy, Autumn Ridge Church, and Rochester youth sports.

 

James Haase: Mr. Haase is a Senior Assistant Olmsted County Attorney, where he prosecutes major felonies. Previously, he was an Assistant Attorney General at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Assistant Olmsted County Attorney, Operational Law Attorney with the U.S. Marines in Iraq, a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Marines, and a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Harry S. Crump, Fourth Judicial District. Mr. Haase is a volunteer with Mount Olive Lutheran Church’s Interfaith Hospitality Network, and a regular performer with Rochester Civic Theater Company and Wits’ End Theatre Company.

 

Tammy Shefelbine: Ms. Shefelbine is an Attorney at Dunlap & Seeger, P.A., where she practices family law. Additionally, she serves as a mediator, early neutral evaluator, and custody study evaluator. Previously, she was an Assistant Olmsted County Attorney, an attorney, mediator, and parenting time expeditor in private practice at Patterson & Associates and O’Brien & Wolf, L.L.P., and a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Joseph F. Chase and the Hon. Lawrence Agerter, Third Judicial District. Ms. Shefelbine volunteers with the Rochester Father Project and is a Family Services Rochester Board Member.

 

Minnesota’s Third Judicial District consists of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Counties.

 

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