Gov. Walz considers three candidates to replace St. Paul judge

Deanna Weniger, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read
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Jul. 31—Gov. Tim Walz will choose between three candidates to fill the seat of Judge Lezlie Ott Marek who is retiring Aug. 2.

The candidates were presented to the governor for consideration by the Commission on Judicial Selection. The seat will be chambered in St. Paul in Ramsey County.

Marek was the last judicial appointment of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration in 2010. She was elected in 2012 and 2018.

Here are candidates:

— Anthony Brown currently serves as a corporate counsel at ECMC Shared Services. He is a part-time public defender for the Dakota County Public Defender's Office and is the owner of Capitol City Law Group, LLC. Previously he practiced at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP and clerked for the Hon. Michael J. Davis in U.S. District Court. His community involvement includes serving as a board member and former co-chair for the Innocence Project of Minnesota and participating in a community group designed to help ex-offenders.

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Andrew Gordon is the Deputy Director of Community Legal Services at the Legal Rights Center where he represents indigent clients. He currently works on several committees on issues of racial justice, equity and access to justice. He is a board member of Green Card Voices, a local non-profit dedicated to empowering immigrants.

— Katherine (Katie) Moerke works as an assistant attorney general in the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison where she regulates and enforces matters related to nonprofit organizations, charitable solicitations and charitable trusts. Previously she was a partner at Stinson LLP. She has clerked for the Hon. James M. Rosenbaum in the U.S. District Court. Her community involvement includes previously serving on the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund Board.

The governor has authority to appoint judges and justices when vacancies arise on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts. Appointed judges serve until the next general election.