Governor Walz Receives Five Judicial Recommendations For 10th District Vacancies
St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection has recommended five distinguished attorneys to Governor Tim Walz for consideration to fill two vacancies in the state’s Tenth Judicial District. The recommendations follow the upcoming retirements of Judge Krista K. Martin and Judge Amy R. Brosnahan, who currently serve in Kanabec and Isanti counties, respectively.
The Tenth Judicial District spans eight counties in east-central Minnesota: Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. With nearly 45 judges presiding over a wide range of civil and criminal matters, the district is among the largest in the state and plays a vital role in Minnesota’s legal system.
Recommended Candidates
The five nominees reflect a broad spectrum of legal expertise and community engagement:
Jennifer Bovitz
Bovitz serves as shareholder and associate general counsel at Bassford Remele. Her career includes experience as a felony prosecutor in Dakota, Chisago, and Washington counties, managing attorney with the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and civil litigator. Bovitz is also active in community service, mentoring law students and serving on the Washington County Community Corrections Advisory Board.
Carrie Doom
A practitioner at Sapientia Law Group, Doom specializes in family and child protection law, representing clients across multiple counties and the Mille Lacs Band Tribal Court. She actively contributes to the Children’s Justice Initiative in Isanti County and mentors local mock trial students. Doom also serves on the boards of the Cambridge Curling Club, Cambridge Medical Center, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
Jacob Fischmann
Currently a senior assistant county attorney in Hennepin County’s Adult Prosecution Division, Fischmann leads felony violent crime prosecutions. His previous experience includes serving in the Chisago County Attorney’s Office, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, and as a criminal procedure instructor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He is also deeply involved in youth sports and community leadership in Woodbury.
Nathan Sosinski
Sosinski leads the Washington County office of the 10th District Public Defender’s Office, overseeing felony defense in several counties. He previously held leadership positions in defender offices in Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec, and Pine counties and worked as a prosecutor in Pine County. Sosinski also serves on the Washington County Community Corrections Advisory Board, coaches youth sports, and judges high school mock trials.
Stacy St. George
An assistant chief in the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, St. George brings extensive experience in violent crime prosecution. She helped implement the district’s first Rule 20.01 mental health court and has served in key prosecutorial roles in Anoka and Isanti counties. Her community involvement includes support for local athletics and student programs in Forest Lake.
Judicial Selection Process
Minnesota’s judicial appointments follow a merit-based system designed to ensure impartiality and professionalism. The Commission on Judicial Selection, a nonpartisan panel, interviews and evaluates applicants before forwarding up to five finalists to the governor. Once appointed, judges must stand for election to retain their seat for a full six-year term.
The two upcoming vacancies in the Tenth District are based in Mora (Kanabec County) and Cambridge (Isanti County). Both Judge Martin and Judge Brosnahan are expected to retire later this year.
Judicial Service and Compensation Context
While Minnesota’s judiciary is nationally recognized for its integrity, the state faces growing concerns over judicial compensation and retention. As of the most recent state compensation council report, district court judges earn approximately $169,264 annually—below the salaries of some county attorneys, who earn upwards of $192,000. These disparities have prompted calls for legislative review to ensure competitive judicial compensation and maintain a high-caliber bench.
Looking Ahead
Governor Walz is expected to make his appointments following a final review of the Commission’s recommendations. The selections will shape the future of the Tenth Judicial District—one of Minnesota’s most dynamic and expansive judicial regions.
MinneapoliMedia will continue to follow the appointments and provide updates as they are announced.
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