A Scott County prosecutor is one of three finalists for a judgeship in Le Sueur County.

The state Commission on Judicial Selection has recommended Jody Kieser Kisting, an assistant Scott County attorney, as well as Michael Baxter, a Burnsville attorney, and Allen Eskens, who practices in Mankato, for consideration. Gov. Tim Pawlenty will make the final appointment.

The vacancy in the 1st Judicial District occurred with the death of Carver County Judge Jean Davies on March 25. Le Sueur County’s sole judge for the last 14 years, Richard Perkins, is transferring to Carver County, creating an opening in Le Sueur.

Kisting is a resident of Savage. Before joining Scott County in 2003, Kisting, she was a staff attorney with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault/Sexual Violence Justice Institute. She was an assistant Rice County attorney from 1998 to 2002, a special assistant Dakota County attorney from 1997 to 1998 and a 1st Judicial District law clerk in Dakota County from 1996 to 1997.

Kisting earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1996, and her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1991.

Baxter, of Rosemount, is an attorney and shareholder with the Baxter Engen Ltd. law firm in Burnsville. Eskens, of Cleveland, is an attorney and senior partner with the Eskens, Gibson and Behm law firm in Mankato.

The Commission on Judicial Selection screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the governor for district court vacancies that occur during the term of a judge.

The commission consists of 13 members: nine at-large members and four members from the judicial district. The commission members include attorneys and non-attorneys appointed by the governor and the Minnesota Supreme Court. The commission received 25 applications for this judicial vacancy.

Although the new judge will be chambered in Le Sueur County, he or she will be able to hear cases throughout the first district, which includes Scott County.

-- Shannon Fiecke