ST. PAUL, MN - At a news conference this morning, Governor Mark Dayton announced that he will appoint Lee Sheehy to continue as Chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection. Mr. Sheehy has held the post since his appointment by the Governor in 2011. Over the last four years, Sheehy and the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection have helped interview and recommend judicial candidates for 86 District Court, Appellate Court, and Supreme Court appointments.

"I am very pleased to announce that Lee Sheehy will continue as Chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection," said Governor Dayton. "Lee and the Commission have done a phenomenal job these last four years. It has been widely-recognized that they have been instrumental in broadening the diversity of our judicial team, and keeping it at a very high caliber."

After earning his undergraduate degree at Harvard College, and his law degree at the University of Minnesota, Lee Sheehy began practicing law in the Office of Minnesota's Attorney General. Mr. Sheehy practiced law for almost 25 years, including 15 years at the law firm Popham, Haik, Schnobrich, Kaufman, and Doty.

Mr. Sheehy has also served as chief deputy attorney general under former Attorney General Skip Humphrey, and as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. In addition, Sheehy has served as senior vice president of business and legal affairs for Public Radio International and as City Attorney for the City of St. Louis Park. He currently serves as the Region and Communities Program Director for the McKnight Foundation.

"I am honored by the Governor's confidence in the work of the Judicial Selection Commission, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue the Commission partnership with the Judiciary, Bar, and all of those who make our system of justice work," said Sheehy.

Since 2011, with the help of the Commission, Governor Dayton's appointments to the bench have helped increase the racial diversity of Minnesota's judges by 53 percent. The Governor's appointments have also increased the proportion of female judges in Minnesota by 17 percent.

A photo of Mr. Sheehy can be found /governor/assets/Lee_Sheehy.jpg_tcm1055-97127.jpgon the Governor's website here.

About the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection
The Commission on Judicial Selection solicits, considers, and recommends candidates to the Governor for vacancies in the District Trial Courts and the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals. Upon request by the Governor, the Commission has also considered candidates to the appellate courts during Governor Dayton's first term. It is a joint Commission, appointed by the Governor and the Supreme Court, and made up of nine at-large members, including the Chair, and four district members from each of the ten Judicial Districts. Commission members appointed by the Governor, including the Chair, serve at the pleasure of the Governor.