Commission on Judicial Selection Recommends Third Judicial District Candidates to Governor Dayton

ST. PAUL, MN –The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today it is recommending four candidates to Governor Mark Dayton for consideration to fill the two current vacancies in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District. These vacancies were created upon the retirements of the Honorable Donald E. Rysavy and the Honorable Fred W. Wellmann. Both seats will be chambered at Austin in Mower County.

Erin Felten: Ms. Felten is an attorney and shareholder at Patton, Hoversten & Berg, P.A., where her practice consists of family law, child protection, probate, employment law, corporate matters, and criminal defense of misdemeanor through felony charges. Previously, she was an associate at Olup & Associates, L.L.C., and, prior to that, was an associate at Adams, Rizzi & Sween, P.A. Ms. Felten currently serves as a volunteer attorney with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and is a member of the Women’s Leadership Initiative of the Mower County United Way.

Jeffrey Kritzer: Mr. Kritzer is a partner at Baudler, Maus, Forman, Kritzer & Wagner, L.L.P., where his practice focuses on municipal law, employment law, commercial litigation, estate planning, and criminal prosecution on behalf of the cities of Austin and Mantorville. Previously, he was a corporate attorney for the Hormel Foods Corporation and an associate attorney for Alderson, Ondov, Leonard, Sween & Rizzi, P.A. Mr. Kritzer serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Development Corporation of Austin and is a former member and Chair of the Austin Public School Board.

Kevin Siefken: Mr. Siefken is President and shareholder with Christian and Peterson, P.A., where his caseload includes family law, criminal, civil litigation, child protection, and civil commitments. He also serves as Special Assistant Albert Lea Attorney, and previously was an Assistant Public Defender for the Third Judicial District. Mr. Siefken is an advisory board member of the Albert Lea Salvation Army, the President of Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower, an Agency Representative to the United Way of Freeborn County, and a volunteer attorney with the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.

Eric Woodford: Mr. Woodford is a team lead attorney in the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office, supervising a team of attorneys while maintaining a caseload of adult criminal matters and handling appeals that arise from that caseload. Previously, he was an associate attorney at Johnson, Larson & Peterson, P.A., where he handled criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, and estate planning. Mr. Woodford is a member of the Operations Committee of the Mayo Clinic Child and Family Advocacy Center and a volunteer with Channel One Regional Food Bank.

Minnesota’s Third Judicial District consists of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona Counties.

An announcement of the appointments will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.