Saint Paul, MN - The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending four candidates to Governor Mark Dayton for consideration to fill the vacancy occurring on Minnesota's Supreme Court. This vacancy is occurring upon the upcoming retirement of Associate Justice Helen M. Meyer on August 10, 2012.

Judge Tanya M. Bransford-Judge Bransford serves as a District Court Judge within Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District where she was first appointed in 1994. She currently manages a block of 175 civil, felony drug and property cases and has worked as the presiding Juvenile Court Judge. Prior to her appointment, Judge Bransford was a District Court Referee for Hennepin County's Juvenile Division, and also served as a Workers' Compensation Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings. Judge Bransford is the co-chair and founding member of the Supreme Court's Committee for Equality and Justice and is also a founding member of Youthprise.

Judge Margaret H. Chutich-Judge Chutich serves as an at-large Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Judge Chutich previously served as Assistant Dean at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs and was Deputy Attorney General of the Law Enforcement Section with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. She also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Judge Chutich clerked for the Honorable Diana E. Murphy, Federal Judge, is a member of the Minnesota Women Lawyers' Advisory Council and is a director of the YWCA of Minneapolis.

David L. Lillehaug-Mr. Lillehaug is an officer and shareholder with Fredrikson and Byron, P.A., and is active in pro bono work. His practice focuses on public law and complex litigation -- civil, criminal and administrative -- with a particular emphasis on state and federal constitutional issues. Previously, he was the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, the federal government's chief prosecutor in the state. He serves on the Minnesota State Bar Association's Mock Trial Program Advisory Committee and on three non-profit boards.

Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright-Judge Wright serves as an at-large Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Prior to her appointment, Judge Wright served as a District Court Judge in Minnesota's Second Judicial District and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Economic Crime and Major Crimes Sections. Judge Wright clerked for the Honorable Damon J. Keith, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She currently serves on the Minnesota Judicial Council's Committee for Equality and Justice, the Minnesota Women Lawyers Advisory Board, the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs Advisory Council, and the Minnesota Lawyer Advisory Board.

The announcement of Governor Dayton's first appointment to the Supreme Court will be made after he completes the interview process.