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 Seventh Congressional District vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Michael L. Kirk.
Judge Jennifer Kurud Fischer: Judge Fischer serves as a District Court Judge in the Eighth Judicial District in Kandiyohi County. Previously, Judge Fischer was the Kandiyohi County Attorney. Prior to becoming an elected official, Judge Fischer was a Partner at Jones & Fischer, P.A., an Eighth District Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant Kandiyohi County Attorney, and a Law Clerk in the Eighth Judicial District in Kandiyohi County for the Honorables Lindstrom, Buchanan and Boylan. Judge Fischer is leading the Eighth District CHIPS Specialization Pilot Project, the Eighth District’s Lead CJI Judge, and a member of the 2018 Minnesota State Planning Team for the Children’s Bureau.
Judge Michelle Lawson: Judge Lawson is a District Court Judge in the Seventh Judicial District, where she presides over district court cases in Clay County. Previously, she was the Chief Assistant Clay County Attorney for the Civil Division, Interim Clay County Attorney, an Assistant Clay County Attorney, an attorney at the Vogel Law Firm, and an adjunct Professor at the University of North Dakota Law School. Judge Lawson serves as the Chair of the Clay County Children’s Justice Initiative and is a member of the Court Records Workgroup, Children’s Justice Initiative Lead Judges Workgroup, and the State Domestic Violence Training Workgroup.
Judge Randall Slieter: Judge Slieter is a District Court Judge in the Eighth Judicial District, where he presides over district court cases in Renville County. Previously, he was a partner at Qualley, Boulton & Slieter, a law clerk at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, a Legislative Intern with the Minnesota House of Representatives, and an adjunct professor of Pre-trial Litigation, Remedies, and Research and Writing at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Judge Slieter is a member of the District Court/Tribal Court Forum, Judicial Branch Education & Organizational Development Faculty Development Team, and the Judicial Officer Technology Advisory Team.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
