Four lawyers have been recommended as finalists for an open judge position in the Third Judicial District in southern Minnesota.

The Commission on Judicial Selection sent these names to Gov. Mark Dayton:

• Jennifer Dunn-Foster
• Jeffrey Kritzer
• Ross Leuning
• Kevin Siefken

The governor will make the final call on who will replace Freeborn County District Court Judge John A. Chesterman, who retired in January.

Some info on the four finalists, from the governor's office:

• Dunn-Foster is the Assistant County Attorney for Steele County where she is primarily responsible for child and adult protection, MA enforcement and criminal prosecutions. She has previously served as President of the Fifth District Bar Association. Dunn-Foster also worked as a volunteer attorney for Steele County Habitat for Humanity.
• Kritzer is a partner at Baudler, Baudler, Maus & Blahnik, LLP where he practices in both civil and criminal law. Prior to this, he was a corporate attorney for the Hormel Foods Corporation. Kritzer also serves on the Austin Public School Board and was President of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Leuning is a Command Judge Advocate for the US Navy, serving at the Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. In addition, he works as the Senior Assistant Olmsted County Attorney and was previously with the Walbran and Furness Law Firm. He has served as a Military Judge and appellate prosecution counsel in the Navy Reserve and has worked with the State Bar’s Wills for Heroes program.
• Siefken is an attorney with Christian and Peterson PA. He had previously served as a public defender for the Third Judicial District. Siefken is an advisory board member and past chair of the Albert Lea Salvation Army and is President of the Ascension Lutheran Church congregation.

More interviews will be held in the next few weeks.