| Three new judges named for Anoka County |
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| Wednesday, 14 October 2009 | |
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Staff writer Courtroom six was the scene of celebration as three new judges were appointed to the Tenth Judicial District bench at the Anoka County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon. Bethany A. Fountain Lindberg, Daniel A. O’Fallon and Dyanna L. Street were named by Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Oct. 6 to fill vacancies. The trial court bench vacancies are the result of the retirements of Kenneth L. Jorgensen Jan. 6, David E. Doyscher Jan. 31 and Stephen J. Askew July 31. Lindberg is the family law division chief attorney in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office, a position she has held since 2005. Previously she was the child support enforcement unit chief attorney in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2005, an assistant Anoka County attorney from 1999 to 2001 and an attorney with the Swanson Law Firm in Grand Marais from 1997 to 1999. Lindberg earned her law degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1997, her bachelor of science degree from Mankato State University in 1989 and her associate of arts degree from Rochester Community College in 1985. “Bethany has considerable experience in family law, a large and demanding part of the court’s caseload,” Pawlenty said in a press release. “She also has a reputation in Anoka County for her strong work ethic and a high level of integrity.” Lindberg is a member of the American, Minnesota State and Anoka County bar associations, the Minnesota State Bar Foundation Board, Minnesota County Attorney Association, Anoka County Early Neutral Evaluation Steering Committee and is chairperson of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility’s 21st District Ethics Committee. She is also a member of the Northern Symphony Orchestra Board and volunteers at Project Homeless Connect as well as for the Alexandra House on its Order for Protection Project Advisory Committee, HOPE Gala Committee and as an educator for its dissolution legal clinic. Lindberg, 45, was born in Rochester and lives in Anoka with her husband Bryan and three children, Scout, 10, Kitir, 8, and Cooper, 5. O’Fallon is an attorney and partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, LLP law firm in Minneapolis. He has been a partner with the firm since 1993 and an associate attorney from 1988 to 1993. Previously, he was an attorney with the Morrison and Foerster law firm in Washington, D.C., from 1986 to 1988. O’Fallon earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1985 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1982. “It is gratifying when a partner at one of the state’s top law firms is willing to leave a lucrative private practice and serve the public good as a district court judge,” Pawlenty said. “I am grateful to Dan that he is willing to make this change in career when he is at the top of his game.” O’Fallon is a member of the American, Minnesota State and Ramsey County bar associations, where he was co-chairman of the Families First event. He is also a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice, where he serves on the board of governors as well as the executive board. O’Fallon is a state delegate to the American Association for Justice, a member of the Douglas Amdahl Inn of Court and the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Campaign for Legal Aid Urban Leadership Committee. He is also active in his community, where he was a founding member and served on the board of directors of the Centennial Area Education Foundation, was an assistant girls’ basketball coach with the Centennial Basketball Association, has been a parent volunteer for a Girl Scout troop, a lector at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church and a participant in his neighborhood’s National Night Out celebration. O’Fallon, 49, was born in Helena, Mont., and lives in Lino Lakes with his wife Kathryn Timm and their three daughters, Genny, 15, Beth, 14, and Brigid, 11. Street is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm of Fabyanske, Westra, Hart and Thomson in Minneapolis. She has been a shareholder in the firm since 2005 and was an associate attorney from 2001 to 2005. Previously she was an associate attorney with the law firm of Arthur, Chapman, Ketterin, Smetak and Pikala in Minneapolis from 1996 to 2000 and a law clerk to Tenth Judicial District Judge Ellen Maas in Anoka County from 1995 to 1996. Street earned her law degree magna cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1994 and her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from St. Cloud State University in 1990. “Dyanna has a sharp intellect and tremendous interpersonal skills,” Pawlenty said. “She has the skills to be a great asset to the Anoka County bench.” Street is a member of the American Bar Association and its Forum on the Construction Industry, the Minnesota State Bar Association, where she is a member of the governing council and a past chairperson of its construction law section, Hennepin County Bar Association and the Association of Women Contractors. She is active in her children’s activities at Ramsey Elementary School and is currently president of the Anoka Youth Wrestling Club. Street, 41, was born and raised in Columbia Heights and lives in Ramsey with her husband Wade and their two sons, Jackson, 10, and Samuel, 7. Kelly Johnson is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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