Governor Walz Reviews Finalist List for Tenth Judicial District Vacancies

ST. PAUL — November 19, 2025 — The Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection has submitted four finalists to Governor Tim Walz to fill two upcoming vacancies in the Tenth Judicial District, a region that spans eight counties and includes some of the fastest-growing communities in Minnesota.

The vacancies are chambered in Anoka (Anoka County) and Elk River (Sherburne County) and follow the retirements of Judges Jenny Walker Jasper and John P. Dehen.

A Routine Departure — and a Controversial One

Judge Jenny Walker Jasper’s retirement marks the end of more than two decades on the bench; she was first appointed in 2001.

Judge John P. Dehen’s retirement, however, follows a sharply different trajectory. In September 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court suspended Dehen for nine months without pay after finding “flagrant and egregious” violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Court determined that Dehen issued improper writs of mandamus related to a court reporter’s pay dispute and later presided over a juvenile hearing remotely from a moving vehicle. He retired on October 10, before completing the suspension, prompting heightened scrutiny of the appointment process for his successor.

The Four Finalists

The Commission’s recommended candidates bring a cross-section of experience in prosecution, public defense, and civil litigation:

• Madelyn Adams — Prosecutor
Senior Attorney, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Specializes in violent-felony prosecution and cases involving vulnerable victims; supervises juvenile-delinquency attorneys; helped launch a restorative specialty court for youth. Former assistant county attorney (Washington County), former public defender (Iowa), and honors clerk for Iowa Supreme Court Justice Bruce Zager. Active in school-board service and youth programming.

• Jennifer Bovitz — Civil Litigation & Regulatory
Shareholder and Associate General Counsel, Bassford Remele
Defends professionals in complex civil and regulatory matters. Former managing attorney at the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and former felony prosecutor in Dakota, Chisago, and Washington counties. Community involvement includes food-shelf leadership, law-school mentoring, and mock-trial coaching.

• Nathan Sosinski — Public Defense
Managing Attorney, 10th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office (Washington County)
Oversees felony defense operations; instructor at the Minnesota Public Defender Trial School; former member of the Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reform Working Group. Previously managed public-defender offices in Pine, Isanti, Chisago, and Kanabec counties. Active youth coach and mock-trial judge.

• Hassan Tahir — Prosecutor
Senior Attorney, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
Leads major violent-felony prosecutions, including homicides, gang-related crimes, and armed robberies. Served as lead prosecutor assigned to the National Crime Gun Intelligence Center initiative targeting repeat armed offenders. Past caseload includes domestic-violence, sexual-assault, and narcotics prosecutions. Volunteers in school and youth-sports programs.

A High-Demand Judicial District

Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District — covering Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties — is the state’s second-largest by population and caseload. Judges here manage a heavy and wide-ranging docket that includes felony criminal matters, juvenile cases, and complex civil litigation. The appointment to Dehen’s former seat in Anoka County is viewed as particularly significant, given the high volume of cases and the public-trust concerns stemming from his misconduct findings.

What Happens Next

Under Minnesota Statute 480B.01, the governor reviews the Commission’s recommendations and may conduct interviews before making an appointment. There is no statutory deadline, but judicial appointments are typically announced within weeks of the finalist list.

Once appointed, new judges serve a term of six years and must stand for election at the next general election occurring more than one year after being sworn in.

Context: The Tenth Judicial District

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