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Klobuchar Announces Advisory Committee for U.S. Attorney

Taps bipartisan group of distinguished Minnesota lawyers and law enforcement to lead search

January 29, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced the formation of an Advisory Committee to assist her in recommending Minnesota’s next U.S. Attorney to President Obama.  The Committee will review letters of interest, conduct interviews and offer guidance to Senator Klobuchar.
 
The Committee includes former Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Lucinda Jesson as chair, as well as former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger; Tim O’Malley, the Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; former Hennepin County Attorney Tom Johnson; the Honorable Edward Toussaint, Jr., Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals; and Craig Nelson, the Freeborn County Attorney and former President of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.  In announcing the Advisory Committee, Senator Klobuchar said: 
 
“I look forward to the advice and counsel of these distinguished members of Minnesota's legal and law enforcement community.
 
“At my request, they will be looking for a U.S. Attorney for Minnesota who is a seasoned, respected attorney; who is fair-minded and of impeccable integrity; who is able to work productively with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; and who is, above all, committed to seeing that justice is done under the law and for the people of Minnesota.
 
“Minnesota has a long tradition of outstanding U.S. Attorneys.  This includes the current acting U.S. Attorney Frank Magill, who has guided the office through a difficult time.  I have no doubt that, with this Committee’s help, we will find an outstanding Minnesotan for this important law enforcement post.”
 
Those wishing to be considered for the position of U.S. Attorney should submit letters of interest by February 11 to:  Chair Lucinda Jesson, U.S. Attorney Advisory Committee, Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar, 1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55415.  Letters may also be e-mailed to ljesson01@gw.hamline.edu.
 
Short biographies of the Advisory Committee members are provided, below:
 
•    Lucinda Jesson will chair the 2009 Minnesota U.S. Attorney Search Committee.  She is an active leader in the Minnesota State Bar Association and has had a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors, having served the State of Minnesota and Hennepin County as Chief Deputy County Attorney.  Jesson is currently a professor at Hamline Law School and the Director of its Health Law Institute.

•    Tom Heffelfinger is an attorney at Best & Flanagan.  He was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney, a position he held from 2001 until his resignation in 2006.  He also held this position under President George H.W. Bush during the years 1991 to 1993.  Heffelfinger has a long record of work on issues of importance to the Native American community, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota in Bemidji.

•    Tim O’Malley is the Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).  Before joining the BCA in 1989, O’Malley worked as an attorney in private practice, and served as a police officer and as an FBI Special Agent.

•    Tom Johnson is an attorney at Gray Plant Mooty, and an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School.  He has served in public office as both a Minneapolis City Council member and as Hennepin County Attorney.  Johnson has been president of both the Council on Crime and Justice and Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.

•    Edward Toussaint, Jr. is Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  He previously served as a Hennepin County District Court Judge, and a Workers' Compensation Judge and Court of Appeals Judge.  He was elected President of the Council of Chief Judges in November 1998 and since 1996 has served on the Executive Committee of the Council of Chief Judges.  Chief Judge Toussaint also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at both William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

•    Craig Nelson is the Freeborn County Attorney, a position he has held for the past 18 years. From November 2003 to November 2004, Nelson served as the President of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA) and he is currently a member of the MCAA’s Foundation Board of Directors.  Prior to his work as the Freeborn County Attorney, Nelson worked at the Minnesota Family Farm Law Project.

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