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 Eighth Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the appointment of the Honorable Randall J. Slieter as a Judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and will be chambered at Olivia in Renville County.
Keith Helgeson: Mr. Helgeson is the Yellow Medicine County Attorney, where he provides legal advice to all county departments, is responsible for the prosecution of all felonies and gross misdemeanors, and supervises the appellate work and administrative appeals for the county. Previously, he was the Assistant Yellow Medicine County Attorney and a law clerk for the Honorable Bruce W. Christopherson and the Honorable Marquis Ward. Mr. Helgeson is a board member of Yellow Medicine County Restorative Justice Advisory Board, a Youth Soccer Coach, and a Kiwanis Member.
Laurence Stratton: Mr. Stratton is an Assistant Renville County Attorney, where he is responsible for all types of criminal, civil and appellate matters. Additionally, he handles all of the county’s Children in Need of Protection and Services cases. Previously, he was an associate attorney at Muske, Muske & Suhrhoff, Ltd., and intern in the Civil Division of the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office. Mr. Stratton is a volunteer EMT, President of Olivia Ambulance Service, a volunteer Firefighter, the Vice President of the Fire Department Association, and President of the Renville County Law Library Board.
Aaron Welch: Mr. Welch is an Assistant County Attorney in Kandiyohi County, where his caseload involves criminal and juvenile matters, civil forfeitures, and child support cases. Previously, Mr. Welch was a judicial law clerk with the Eighth Judicial District and an Associate Attorney at Anderson Larson, P.L.L.P. Mr. Welch is an Adjunct Professor at Ridgewater College, an ethics investigator for the 12th District Bar Association, a member of the Board of Directors for the Willmar Hockey Association, and a den leader for Pack 224 with the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District consists of Big Stone, Chippewa, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, Wilkins, and Yellow Medicine Counties.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
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