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 First Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Michael A. Fahey, and will be chambered at Hastings in Dakota County.
Patrick Goggins: Mr. Goggins is a partner at Wornson, Goggins, Neisen, Morris & Brever, P.C., where he has a private general practice. He is also Defense Counsel at Le Sueur County Drug Court, and previously was an attorney at the First Judicial District Public Defender’s Office and a law clerk in the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. Mr. Goggins is a member of the St. Wenceslaus Grade School Board, former president of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce and the Eighth District Bar Association, and a youth coach for both the New Prague Hockey and Baseball Associations.
Martin Fallon: Mr. Fallon is a partner at Maslon, L.L.P., handling complex commercial litigation. Previously, he was an associate at Maslon, Edelman, Brand, and Borman, L.L.P., an associate at Faegre & Benson, L.L.P., and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David S. Doty, United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Mr. Fallon has been a mentor at St. Thomas School of Law and serves on the Ramsey County Historical Society Board, the St. Joseph’s Church Parish Finance Council, and the North Hennepin Community College Paralegal Program Advisory Board.
Tanya O’Brien: Ms. O’Brien is an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney, where she prosecutes a variety of felony crimes, including homicides. Previously, she was an Assistant Scott County Attorney and a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lynn C. Olson and the Honorable Ellen L. Maas, Minnesota Tenth Judicial District. Ms. O’Brien is an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of law, the Secretary of the Prior Lake Athletics for Youth Board, and is a volunteer at Saint George Eastern Orthodox Church, FOCUS Minnesota, La Ola Del Lago, and St. Thomas Academy.
Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley Counties.
An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.
