Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Fifth Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz

ST. PAUL, MN - The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending five candidates for consideration to fill the vacancies in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. The vacancies will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Terry S. Vajgrt and the Honorable Todd W. Westphal. One seat will be chambered in Luverne in Rock County and Pipestone in Pipestone County, and the other seat will be chambered in St. Peter in Nicollet County.

Amanda Delaney: Amanda Delaney is a managing attorney in the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, where she represents indigent individuals charged with crimes. She was previously an assistant public defender in the Fifth Judicial District. Delaney’s community involvement includes serving as a board member for Rock County Opportunities and previously serving as a board member of the Southwest Crisis Center.

Susan DeVos: Susan DeVos is an assistant county attorney in the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office, where she represents the county in numerous areas including child protection, civil commitment, and appeals. She is a member of the Blue Earth County Family Dependency Treatment Court, Blue Earth County Child Protection Team, and Children’s Justice Initiative. DeVos was previously an associate attorney at Meagher & Geer and a law clerk to the Honorable R.A. (Jim) Randall on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Her community involvement includes volunteering backstage for Mankato Ballet Company productions and as a judge for the McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court.

Paul Gunderson: Paul Gunderson is an assistant county attorney in the Brown County Attorney’s Office, where he prosecutes adult felony and gross misdemeanor cases, and is a member of the Brown County Treatment Court staffing team. He previously was an associate attorney at Blethen Berens, where his practice included criminal defense, business litigation, and representing the City of New Ulm as an assistant city attorney. Gunderson’s community involvement?includes serving on the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure and the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Board. He also volunteers as a coach for a local college mock trial team and as a judge for college and high school mock trial competitions.

Kayla Johnson: Kayla Johnson is an assistant county attorney in the Murray County Attorney’s Office, where she participates in treatment court and handles a broad range of matters, including juvenile prosecution, child protection, and land use matters. She is also a partner at Smith & Johnson, a general practice law firm with an emphasis in child protection, real estate, estate planning, and municipal law. Johnson previously worked as an assistant public defender in the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender’s Office and as an associate attorney at Lynn A. Johnson Law Office, LLC. Her community involvement has included serving as a high school mock trial judge and coach, as well as a board member for WonderWorld Preschool Inc. and the Slayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Stefanie Menning: Stefanie Menning is an assistant county attorney in the Scott County Attorney’s Office, where she represents Human Services in child protection proceedings. She is a member of the First Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court and Scott County Treatment Court. Menning was previously an assistant county attorney in the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office in the felony criminal division, an assistant Mankato city attorney, and an associate attorney at Brandt Law Office, P.A. Menning’s community involvement includes serving on the Staff Support Committee at First Lutheran Church of St. Peter, serving as an investigator for the 8th District Bar Association Ethics Committee, and volunteering as a basketball coach for the St. Peter Youth Basketball Association.

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.