FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2020
Contact: Teddy Tschann
teddy.tschann@state.mn.us
651-402-8841
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Fifth Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill the current vacancy in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. The vacancy occurred upon the appointment of the Honorable Gordon L. Moore to the Minnesota Supreme Court. This seat will be chambered in Worthington in Nobles County.
Nicholas Anderson: Mr. Anderson is currently the Cottonwood County Attorney. In this role, he is responsible for handling criminal, juvenile delinquency and child protection matters. Previously, he was a solo practitioner at Nicolas Anderson Law Office and served as the Assistant Cottonwood County Attorney. His community involvement includes serving as the chair of the 13th District Ethics Committee, frequently volunteering with Windom’s National Night Out Program, and serving as a judge for mock trial competitions.
Virginia Barron: Ms. Barron is currently an Assistant Public Defender in the Fifth Judicial District. In this role, she represents clients in misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felony adult proceedings. She also represents clients in juvenile protection and delinquency matters. Previously, she worked as a Guardian Ad Litem in the Fifth Judicial District, operated her own private practice focusing in criminal defense and family law, was a student certified attorney with the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office, and was a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy K. Connell. Her current and past community involvement includes serving as a member of the Minnesota Cornerstone Drug Court, the Children’s Justice Initiative, the public defender statewide DNA group, and The American Academy of Forensic Sciences. She has also served as a union steward for Teamsters Local 320, a District Ethics Committee Investigator, and as president and vice president of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s 13th District. Additionally, she has worked in her community as Congregational President at Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook, establishing the Westbrook Legal Self-Help Center, serving as a member on her local school board, and working with youth in various capacities, including as a mock trial coach and as a mock trial volunteer attorney.
Sherry Haley: Mrs. Haley is currently the County Attorney in Jackson County, Minnesota. In this role, she represents the County in criminal, juvenile, child protection, civil court matters and advising the county board and county departments. She previously served as an Assistant Jackson County Attorney. Her community involvement includes volunteering with various children’s sports and community activities, serving as a member of the Truman and Reta Wood Scholarship Board at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and volunteering for the MSBA Wills for Heroes program.