Chief ALJ Appoints Judges

Chief ALJ Appoints Judges

SAINT PAUL, MN – Chief Administrative Law Judge Raymond R. Krause announced he has appointed Jeanne M. Cochran and Ann C. O’Reilly as Administrative Law Judges for the Office of Administrative Hearings.  The appointments are effective in October of 2012.    

Cochran has served as an Assistant Attorney General since 2000 and has represented the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on utility matters.  Prior to that time, she practiced law as an associate with the law firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard and the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund.  Cochran earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Dartmouth College and her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School. 

O’Reilly has practiced law as an associate and shareholder with LeVander, Gillen & Miller, PA since 1997, where her practice focused on civil litigation, employment, real estate, corporate, and municipal law.  She has served as an adjunct judicial officer in Hennepin County District Court as well as a part-time contract administrative law judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings.  O’Reilly earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and her Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School. 

Remarked Chief Judge Krause:  “These appointments demonstrate OAH’s continuing commitment to excellence.  We look forward to these two experienced litigators joining our team.” 

The Office of Administrative Hearings is an Executive Branch agency charged with conducting due process hearings for state agencies and local units of government.  The OAH has seven full-time Administrative Law Judges and 25 Workers’ Compensation Judges . 

           The OAH received 154 applications for the vacancies.