NEWS RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar today (Tuesday, Nov. 3) announced Susan Richard Nelson as her recommendation for a position on the United States District Court for Minnesota, highlighting her 30 years of legal experience including nine years as a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

“Susan Richard Nelson will bring to the federal court a unique depth and breadth of legal experience,” said Klobuchar.  “She knows the law, she knows the federal court and she knows Minnesota.”

Klobuchar added:  “Because federal judges are appointed for life, it’s essential that we have someone who’s proven to be fair-minded with impeccable integrity and an excellent judicial temperament.  Those qualities define Susan Richard Nelson.”

Nelson has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Minnesota since June 2000. In this position, she serves as a judicial officer appointed by the judges of the federal court district and conducts a wide range of judicial proceedings to expedite the disposition of civil and criminal caseloads in the court.  She has a reputation for being thorough, prepared and possesses a unique ability to bring parties together to resolve legal disputes.

“Susan Richard Nelson is eminently qualified for this position.  She’s a fantastic jurist with an impeccable resume whose talents have already served Minnesota well.  I’m confident she’ll continue to excel on the federal court,” said Senator Al Franken.

Prior to her appointment as a magistrate judge, Nelson was a trial lawyer in both state and federal courts for 22 years.  From 1994 to 1998, she served as a member of the core trial team representing the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota in the historic litigation against the tobacco industry.

Nelson would replace Judge James Rosenbaum, who earlier announced his decision to assume senior status this fall.

“Judge Rosenbaum is, of course, irreplaceable,” said Klobuchar.  “He’s served Minnesota with remarkable distinction for more than two decades.  We’re very fortunate that we’ll continue to benefit from his service as a federal judge on senior status.”

Assisting Klobuchar in her decision was a Judicial Selection Committee co-chaired by Tom Sullivan, Provost for the University of Minnesota and former Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Law, and Ellen Luger, an attorney and the Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation.  In a field of very highly qualified applicants, the committee recommended Susan Richard Nelson.

Other Committee members included Russell Anderson, former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court; Leo Brisbois, President of the Minnesota State Bar Association; R. Ann Huntrods, an attorney with an extensive federal practice; Tom Johnson, former president of the Council on Crime and Justice and Hennepin County Attorney; former Minnesota District Court Judge Carol Person; and Chief Judge Edward Toussaint Jr. of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  Klobuchar thanked the committee for its hard work, which included dozens of interviews of highly qualified candidates.

“We were very impressed with the breadth and depth of the quality and experience of a very large pool of applicants,” said Tom Sullivan, University of Minnesota Provost and committee co-chair.

"It was an honor to co-chair this Committee.  I'm thrilled that Magistrate Judge Susan Richard Nelson has been recommended to become Minnesota's next federal judge," added Ellen Luger, Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation and committee co-chair.

Federal judges are formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the full Senate.