WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-3) has created a judicial selection committee to vet potential candidates for President-elect Donald Trump. The candidates will look to fill two vacant seats in Minnesota’s federal district court.
Paulsen has chosen individuals well known in the legal communities. Individuals were chosen for the committee include former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz and former Chief Justice Russell Anderson, who previously served on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Others include AIPAC (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee) Dan Rosen, Professor Gary Haugen of Vanderbilt University, and former chief deputy attorney general for Minnesota John Stanoch.
Paulsen states in a press release,
“This committee is made up of some of Minnesota’s brightest legal minds, with an extremely diverse breadth of professional experience. I have full confidence in their ability to identify the most-qualified individuals to apply the law in a fair manner and to ensure equal treatment under the law to all Minnesotans. I look forward to reviewing the committee’s work and recommending candidates to the President-elect who will serve Minnesota faithfully. “
The committee will begin receiving applications in January. Paulsen did not add faculty from the University of Minnesota Law School, which is ranked 20th in the nation.
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
