Pawlenty names 3 to the Minn. Court of Appeals

by Elizabeth Stawicki, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Gov. Tim Pawlenty made three new appointments to the state Court of Appeals Tuesday.

The governor appointed former law partner and Ramsey County Judge, Louise Bjorkman, tenth district judge Michelle Larkin, and long-time Duluth attorney Larry Stauber.

In making appointments, Pawlenty said he looks to balance the court with individuals of different legal and life experiences.

"So you wouldn't want everybody who's been a district judge or a private practitioner only, you want to have a mix," said Pawlenty. "So when we look at the Court of Appeals, two of these three appointments have district court experience, one does not. But in Larry's case, he's got three decades of legal experience, including appellate experience which will serve him well."

The court decides most appeals in the state.

Two of the new appointments replace retiring judges Bruce Willis and R.A. "Jim" Randall. The other fills the vacancy created when the governor appointed Christopher Dietzen to the Minnesota Supreme Court.