St. Paul, MN - Governor Mark Dayton today announced a judicial vacancy in Minnesota's Third Judicial District Court. The Honorable John A. Chesterman, who served in Freeborn County, has retired from the Third Judicial District Court, leaving a vacancy for a district judgeship.

Governor Dayton is searching for fair, experienced and civic-minded individuals to serve on the bench, and offer their talents and services to Minnesota's judicial system. The following qualities will be considered for judicial office: integrity, maturity, health (if job related), judicial temperament, legal knowledge, ability, experience and community service. The application process is now open for this vacancy.

An attorney wishing to apply may request an application by writing to Lee E. Sheehy, Chair of the Commission on Judicial Selection, at 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155, or by contacting Tiffany Orth, Appointments Coordinator, via e-mail at tiffany.orth@state.mn.us. The application deadline is Friday, March 25, 2011. A full outline of the application process is also available on the governor's website at http://mn.gov/governor.

Potential applicants who have questions about the application process should contact Tiffany Orth at tiffany.orth@state.mn.us or at (651) 201-3413.