Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 6th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 23, 2019
Contact: Teddy Tschann
teddy.tschann@state.mn.us
651-402-8841 

Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Sixth 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 Sixth Judicial District. This vacancy occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Gary Pagliaccetti and will be chambered at Virginia in St. Louis County.

Bhupesh Pattni: Mr. Pattni is currently an attorney for Trenti Law Firm where he represents clients with a focus on probate, real estate, business and civil litigation. Mr. Pattni is also an assistant public defender for the Sixth Judicial District where he defends clients ranging from misdemeanor to felony offenses and represents children in the foster care system. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Equal Justice Initiative Committee, Law Library Trustee, Range Bar Association as current member, past president, and past treasurer, Range Bar Ethics Committee, Board of Directors for the Volunteer Attorney Program as co-chair of the board, and the Board of Directors for Lyric Center for the Arts.

Andrew Peterson: Mr. Peterson is currently an attorney and shareholder of Cope & Peterson Ltd. where he represents clients in all aspects of civil litigation, criminal law, real estate, business law, and municipal law. Previously, he was a law clerk at SiebenCarey. Mr. Peterson is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Civil Trial Specialist and a Real Property Specialist. His community involvement includes the Volunteer Attorney Program, Range Bar Association, Domestic Violence Court Exploratory Committee, Virginia Educational Fund, Quad Cities Rotary Club, Minnesota Association of Justice, and others.

Bruce Williams: Mr. Williams is a solo practitioner in Virginia, Minnesota where he practices in general litigation, including family law and criminal defense. He has been certified as a criminal trial specialist since 2005.  In addition to serving on the Federal Public Defender Conflicts Panel, Mr. Williams is also a part-time attorney in the 6th District Public Defender’s Office where he represents clients charged with felonies. His community involvement includes the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, the MN Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal Education, 2019 North Star Award recipient for over 50 hours pro bono work, a previous member of the Ethics Panel for the 20th District MN Bar Association and volunteer high school football coach.