FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 11, 2020
Contact: Teddy Tschann
teddy.tschann@state.mn.us
651-402-8841
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Second Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending five candidates to the Governor for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District. One vacancy occurred upon the appointment of the Honorable Jennifer Frisch to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The other vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Judith M. Tilsen. Both vacancies will be chambered in St. Paul in Ramsey County.
Anthony Brown: Mr. Brown currently serves as a corporate counsel at ECMC Shared Services, a part-time public defender for the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office, and the owner of Capitol City Law Group, LLC, where he represents individuals in both civil and criminal matters. 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, primarily black men, succeed in life while in the community.
Kellie Charles: Ms. Charles is currently a Senior Attorney in the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. In her role, Ms. Charles is responsible for managing the Appeals and Special Litigation Team, the Treatment Court Team, and the Felony Probation Revocation Team. Ms. Charles has also represented indigent clients in adult, juvenile, and child protection cases at the trial and appellate levels. She is an adjunct professor of Appellate Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy at Mitchell Hamline College of Law. Her community involvement includes service with Veterans Stand Down and the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, and she has previously served as the president of AFSCME Local 2938.
Scott Flaherty: Mr. Flaherty is currently a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. In this role, he handles complex commercial litigation, including intellectual property, contract disputes, and civil fraud cases. Previously, Mr. Flaherty was an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School and a law clerk at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. His volunteer work includes representing children through the Children's Law Center and defending adults in the Ramsey County Mental Health Court. Mr. Flaherty’s community involvement includes serving as the vice-chair of the ACLU of Minnesota and a board member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society. He was also a board member of the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center and the chair of the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights. Mr. Flaherty is an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
Maria Mitchell: Ms. Mitchell currently serves as an Assistant Ramsey County Attorney. In this role, she primarily handles Pre-Trial Diversion Division and Treatment Court cases. Previously, Ms. Mitchell worked in the Child Protection Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. She has also served as an Assistant Hennepin County Public Defender, a law clerk in the Fourth Judicial District, and a trial attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, New York. Her community involvement includes serving as the Chair of the St. Paul Human Right’s Commission, Woman’s Advocates board member, president of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, and trustee for the Sheltering Arms Foundation.
Edward Sheu: Mr. Sheu is currently a partner at Best & Flanagan LLP. In this role, Mr. Sheu handles a wide range of litigation and other dispute resolution matters in state and federal courts. Previously, he was a law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Mr. Sheu’s community involvement includes serving as the Vice Chair of St. Paul’s District 10 Community Council and a volunteer at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels.
Minnesota’s Second Judicial District serves Ramsey County.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit our website: https://mn.gov/governor/administration/judicialappointments/