[ST. PAUL, MN] – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill the current vacancy in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. This vacancy occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Martha Simonett and will be chambered at LeCenter in LeSeur County.

Robert B. Bauer: Mr. Bauer is currently a part of Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. and is primary litigator and city attorney for the city of Eagan as well as assistant city attorney for the city of Apple Valley. Previously, Mr. Bauer clerked at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in the child support and criminal divisions as well as working in Sam Hertogs & Associates, P.A. His community involvement includes the Supreme Court’s Lawyer’s Board of Professional Responsibility, Minnesota Client Security Board and Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Patrick Biren: Mr. Biren is currently Managing Attorney and Senior Partner at the Stich Angell law firm. In his current role, Biren represents individuals and corporate entities in commercial litigation and participates in court hearings, trials, and arbitration. Previously Biren worked as a partner at Brownson and Linnihan, PLLP, and a law clerk for the Honorable Michael T. DeCourcy of Ramsey County District Court. His community involvement includes being a volunteer attorney for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Mock Trial judge through the MSBA, appointed to the Scott County Extension Committee and provides pro-bono legal services to non-profits.

Patrick Goggins: Mr. Goggins, is a partner at Wornson Goggins law firm in New Prague. In addition to his law practice, Goggins is also Defense Counsel at Le Sueur County Drug Court, and previously was an attorney at the First Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, and a law clerk in the Dakota County Attorney’s Office. Mr. Goggins is a former member of the St. Wenceslaus Grade School Board, former president of the New Prague Chamber of Commerce and the Eighth District Bar Association.

Minnesota’s First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, LeSueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley Counties.