FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2020
Contact: Teddy Tschann
teddy.tschann@state.mn.us
651-402-8841
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, the Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies on Minnesota’s Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. The vacancies will occur upon the expiration of the terms of Judges David A. Stofferahn and Deborah K. Sundquist.
William J. Marshall: The Honorable William J. Marshall serves as a Workers’ Compensation Judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). At OAH, he has held various roles, including Judge Supervisor and Interim Chief Administrative Law Judge. Previously, Judge Marshall was an attorney with Midwest Disability, where he represented employees in workers’ compensation matters, ERISA disability appeals, and veteran’s disability claims. Judge Marshall’s community involvement includes judging mock trials at the high school and collegiate levels, grocery shopping for shut-in seniors during the pandemic, and volunteering in programs for youths and adults with special needs including the Special Olympics and Minnesota Special Hockey.
David A. Stofferahn: The Honorable David A. Stofferahn currently serves as a judge on the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA). He was appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura in 2002. He was appointed to successive terms by Governors Tim Pawlenty and Mark Dayton. Prior to his appointment to the WCCA, Judge Stofferahn was in private practice, where he represented injured people in workers’ compensation claims. His community involvement includes mentoring students at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and volunteering as a reader in the Everybody Wins reading program. Judge Stofferahn also served in the U.S. Navy.
Deborah K. Sundquist: The Honorable Deborah K. Sundquist currently serves as a judge on the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. She was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2015. Previously, Judge Sundquist was in private practice at Aafedt, Forde, Gray, Monson, and Hager, P.A. and Meagher Geer, P.L.L.P., where she represented employers in workers’ compensation litigation. Judge Sundquist began her career at Sundquist Law Firm, a firm dedicated to representing union members. She also served as an officer of the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps during the Persian Gulf War.
The Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA) is an independent agency of Minnesota’s executive branch. The WCCA has exclusive, statewide authority to review workers' compensation cases decided by compensation judges at the Office of Administrative Hearings and certain cases decided by the Workers' Compensation Division at the Department of Labor and Industry.
For inquiries concerning the application process, please contact the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor at Judicial.Selection@state.mn.us.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit our website: https://mn.gov/governor/administration/judicialappointments/
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