FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2023
Contact: Claire Lancaster
claire.lancaster@state.mn.us
651-219-2975
Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Sixth Judicial District Candidates to Governor Walz
[ST. PAUL, MN] – The
Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is
recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in
Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District. The vacancy occurred upon the
retirement of the Honorable Michael J. Cuzzo. The seat will be chambered
in Cook and Lake counties.
Steve Hanke:
Steve Hanke is an attorney for the City of Duluth, where he practices
civil law and prosecutes criminal matters. He is also an adjunct
professor in the Human Behavior, Justice and Diversity Department at the
University of Wisconsin – Superior. His community involvement includes
volunteering with the Minnesota State Bar Association as a high school
mock trial judge, as well as with the Duluth Area Family YMCA and the
Duluth Amateur Hockey Association. He also serves as the president of
the 11th District Bar Association and as a board member for the Damiano Center.
Molly Hicken:
Molly Hicken serves as the Cook County attorney, where she is the
county’s chief prosecutor and legal advisor. She was previously an
assistant county attorney in the office. She helped found Cook County’s
hybrid treatment court and serves on the advisory council for the Cook
County Minnesota Restorative Justice program. She is vice president of
the board of directors for the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association
and is a member of both the Rural Justice Collaborative and the Beyond
Big Cities initiative of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution.
Tyson Smith: Tyson
Smith is a managing attorney at Smith Law, PLLC in Grand Marais, where
he is a general practitioner and takes cases in most major practice
areas. He was previously an associate attorney at Bernick Lifson, P.A.
practicing primarily in civil litigation. His community involvement
includes volunteering as an emergency responder for Cook County Search
& Rescue and as a member of the Grand Marais Lion’s Club.
For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.
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