FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 14, 2023
Contact: Claire Lancaster
claire.lancaster@state.mn.us
651-219-2975
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Eighth Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – The
Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is
recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in
Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District. The vacancy will occur upon the
retirement of the Honorable David L. Mennis. This seat will be chambered
in Benson in Swift County.
Kristen Pierce:
Kristen Pierce is the first assistant county attorney in the Kandiyohi
County Attorney’s Office, where she provides legal advice to county
departments and maintains a criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment
caseload. She was previously an associate attorney at Anderson Larson
PLLC, a law clerk for the Honorable Ann L. Carrott in Minnesota’s
Seventh Judicial District, and a contract public defender in the Eighth
Judicial District. Pierce’s community involvement includes serving on
the Eighth Judicial District Treatment Court team and as a member of the
West Central Singers. She also volunteers with the Minnesota State Bar
Association Mock Trial Program.
Allison Whalen: Allison
Whalen is an assistant county attorney in the Stevens County Attorney’s
Office, where she handles a caseload of criminal prosecution, juvenile
delinquency, child protection, civil commitment, guardianship and
conservatorship, child support, and appellate matters. She was
previously an assistant county attorney in the Swift County Attorney’s
Office and a law clerk to the Honorable Matthew E. Johnson on the
Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Honorable Michael R. Savre in
Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Whalen’s community involvement
includes serving on the board of the 16th District Bar Association and
as a member of the Stevens County Children’s Justice Initiative and the
Stevens County Violence Prevention Task Force.
Brandon Zumwalt: Brandon
Zumwalt is a partner at Johnson, Moody, Schmidt, Kleinhuizen &
Zumwalt, P.A., where he represents clients in a broad range of criminal
and civil matters. He was previously an associate attorney at Walling,
Berg, & Debele, P.A. Zumwalt’s community involvement includes
serving on the boards of the Willmar Rotary Club, Willmar Rotary
Foundation, and Willmar Area Community Foundation. He also volunteers on
the Willmar Public School District Community Task Force and as a mentor
for the school district’s REACH program to help students overcome
academic and personal obstacles to achieve success.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
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