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 Seventh Judicial District. This vacancy was created upon the retirement of the Honorable David R. Battey, and will be chambered at Alexandria in Douglas County.

 

Judge Amy Chantry: The Honorable Amy Chantry is a contract Administrative Law Judge in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Amy Jo Chantry, and an attorney at St. Cloud State University Student Legal Services. Previously, she was an associate at Eller Law Office, an Assistant Public Defender in Benton and Stearns Counties, and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David R. Battey. Judge Chantry volunteers at high school mock trial tournaments and for various student activities at Sauk Rapids Rice Middle School and High School.

 

Timothy Churchwell: Mr. Churchwell is a shareholder at Peters & Churchwell, P.A. and is also an Assistant Seventh District Judicial District Public Defender. Previously, Mr. Churchwell was an attorney at the law firms Brown & Sellnow and Curott & Jesse, and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence T. Collins. Mr. Churchwell serves on the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. He is also a member of the Todd-Wadena Community Corrections Board and Swanville Lion’s Club, and past chair of the Todd County Law Library Board of Trustees.

 

Michelle Clark: Ms. Clark is an Assistant Douglas County Attorney, where she handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felony cases. Previously, she was an attorney at Tillit McCarten Johnson & Haseman Ltd., and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Thomas M. Stringer. Ms. Clark serves on the Domestic Abuse Taskforce, the Douglas County Coalition on Mental Health, and the Legal Office Advisory Committee at Alexandria Technical and Community College. She is also a member of the St. John Lutheran Church Pastoral Call Committee and President of the Douglas County Law Library Board.

 

Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District consists of Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena Counties.

 

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