FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 3, 2021
Contact: Claire Lancaster
claire.lancaster@state.mn.us
651-219-2975
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Tenth Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District. These vacancies will occur upon the retirements of the Honorable Stephen M. Halsey and the Honorable Tad V. Jude. The seats will be chambered in Buffalo in Wright County and in Stillwater in Washington County.
Helen Brosnahan: Ms. Brosnahan is an Assistant Dakota County Attorney in the Civil Division, where she handles matters including litigation, contracts, civil asset forfeiture, and water management. Previously, Ms. Brosnahan was an Assistant Dakota County Attorney in the Criminal Division, where she prosecuted adult criminal cases. Ms. Brosnahan has been recognized as a leader for her work with Dakota County’s initiative to champion inclusion, diversity, and equity, and she serves on the Dakota County Attorney’s Office’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance. Before joining Dakota County, Ms. Brosnahan was an attorney at LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A., an Assistant Olmsted County Attorney, and a law clerk for the Honorable Robert F. Carolan. Ms. Brosnahan also served on the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure. She has been active with Minnesota Women Lawyers, where she has served in various leadership roles. Ms. Brosnahan has been a judge for the William McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition and the Minnesota State Bar Association Moot Court Competition.
David Classen: Mr. Classen is an Assistant Chisago County Attorney, where his responsibilities include prosecuting felony cases and serving as the lead prosecutor for the Chisago-Pine Veterans Court. Mr. Classen also serves as general counsel for a U.S. Army brigade as a reserve-component officer with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He previously worked as an associate attorney at Larson King, LLP, until serving in the Army on active duty for eight years. His military service includes work as the Chief of Administrative Law for the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and as the Chief of Claims for U.S. Forces – Iraq. Mr. Classen’s community involvement includes service as an at-large member of the Minnesota Judicial Council Committee on Equality and Justice and a former member of the Seventh District Ethics Committee.
Kristi Stanislawski: Ms. Stanislawski is an attorney at Jovanovich, Dege & Athmann, PA. Her practice includes serving as the lead prosecutor for the cities of Cold Spring, Richmond, Kimball, and St. Stephen, as well as representing private clients in civil and family matters. She previously worked as a staff attorney for Minnesota’s attorney licensing boards, as an associate attorney for Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd., and as a law clerk for the Honorable Jay Mondry in the Ninth Judicial District. Her community involvement includes serving on Central Minnesota Legal Service’s board of directors, volunteering with the Children’s Law Center, and serving as a volunteer attorney with the Stearns/Benton County Pro Bono Legal Clinic. Ms. Stanislawski served in various leadership roles with the Minnesota Women Lawyers Central Chapter and the Seventh District chapter of the Minnesota State Bar Association. She also serves as a board member on the St. Michael-Albertville Girls Basketball Association’s board of directors and as a coach for the fourth-grade girls traveling team.
Kari Willis: Ms. Willis is an Assistant County Attorney with the Wright County Attorney’s Office, where she primarily represents the human services agency in child protection matters. She previously worked in the areas of juvenile delinquency and adult criminal prosecution. Prior to joining the Wright County Attorney’s Office, Ms. Willis was a law clerk for the Honorable Kim Johnson in Wright County in the Tenth Judicial District. Ms. Willis is an active participant in The Turn - Wright County Adult Drug Court Program. Her community involvement includes engaging with community youth sports and volunteering as a mock trial judge with the Minnesota State Bar Association. Ms. Willis serves on the Wright County Safe Schools committee, Community Child Safety Team, Back-to-School Program, and Children’s Justice Initiative. She also administers the Wright County Attorney’s Office truancy program.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
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