Abrams appointed 4th District judge

04/29/2006

St. Paul Pioneer Press
April 29, 2006

State Rep. Ron Abrams will be trading his seat in the House chambers for a judge’s chambers.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Friday named Abrams, R-Minnetonka, to the Hennepin County bench in the 4th Judicial District.

Abrams, a 54-year-old moderate Republican and 17-year legislative veteran, headed the House Taxes Committee for six years. A committee reshuffling drove him from that post in 2005. He’s a Harvard Law School graduate who sometimes presides over floor debates as speaker pro tempore when Speaker Steve Sviggum leaves the podium.

“Ron has a well-earned reputation for fairness as a legislator, committee chair and speaker pro-tem that crosses party lines,” Pawlenty said in a news release.

Abrams is expected to resign his legislative seat when the session adjourns next month.

The governor also appointed Daniel Moreno and Gina Brandt to fill other vacancies in the 4th Judicial District.

Moreno is an assistant public defender in Hennepin County and founding member of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association. Brandt is an associate attorney with Eagan-based Campbell Knutson law firm who also has worked as a prosecutor in Carver County and Hutchinson.

— Associated Press