Occasionally, we may use this blog to get the word out on local bar developments. As many local attorneys already know, U.S. District Court Judge James Rosenbaum moves to senior status on October 26, leaving a vacancy on the federal district court bench in Minnesota.  It is one of 25 predicted federal court vacancies in the next few months, in addition to the 90 vacancies that currently exist throughout the U.S., about 70 of which are at the district court level.

In a newswire story in July, Dolan Media reported that Hennepin County District Court Judge Susan Burke had been the only person to express interest in Rosenbaum’s seat. Now, that will  likely change. Senator Amy Klobuchar, as the senior senator from Minnesota, has announced the formation of a search committee to find a nominee for the seat. Some of the attorneys on the committee are MSBA President Leo Brisbois; University of Minnesota Provost Tom Sullivan; and General Mills Foundation Executive Director Ellen Goldberg Luger.  Sullivan and Luger will serve as co-chairs. According to Klobuchar’s release:

Those interested in the seat should send a letter of interest and resume by Friday, September 4, 2009 Friday, September 18, 2009, to: Co-Chairs Tom Sullivan and Ellen Luger, Judicial Selection Committee, Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar, 1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Materials may also be e-mailed to Tom Sullivan and Ellen Luger at provost@umn.edu. References will be requested at a later date during the interview process. All other inquiries should be directed to Paige Herwig at (202) 224-3244.

Now, all the hubbub aside, who’s on your short list?