[ST. PAUL, MN] – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill the vacancy in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. The vacancy occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Krista J. Jass. This seat will be chambered in Mankato in Blue Earth County. 

Susan DeVos: Susan DeVos is an assistant county attorney in the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office, where she represents the county in numerous areas, including child protection, civil commitment, postconviction, and appeals. She is a member of the Blue Earth County Family Dependency Treatment Court, Blue Earth County Child Protection Team, Children’s Justice Initiative, and Yellow Line Project. DeVos was previously an associate attorney at Meagher & Geer and a law clerk to the Honorable R.A. (Jim) Randall on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Her community involvement includes volunteering backstage for Mankato Ballet Company productions and as a judge for the McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court.

Stephen Lindee: Stephen Lindee is an assistant public defender in the Fifth Judicial District Public Defender’s Office in Fairmont, where he represents clients charged with felonies, gross misdemeanors, and misdemeanors. He was previously the county attorney in the Watonwan County Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted criminal matters ranging from serious felonies to speeding tickets, as well as child protection and juvenile cases. Lindee was previously a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Jeffrey L. Flynn in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. His community involvement includes serving on the St. James City Council, the church council for St. Paul’s Lutheran, and coaching baseball for the St. James Youth Baseball Association. 

Julianna Passe: Julianna Passe is an assistant county attorney in the Lyon County Attorney's Office, where she focuses on criminal prosecution, appeals, and child support. She previously served as an assistant county attorney in the Kandiyohi County Attorney's Office and as an assistant attorney general with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, where she represented the State of Minnesota in employment, tort, and constitutional litigation. Passe also clerked for the Honorable Carol A. Hooten on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Her community involvement includes playing with a community band, volunteering as a high school mock trial judge, and serving on the appellate committee of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.  

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.