Three Finalists Named for Seventh Judicial District Judgeship in Little Falls

(KNSI) – When Judge Leonard A. Weiler announced his retirement from Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District, it set in motion a selection process that would ultimately place three accomplished attorneys from central Minnesota on Governor Tim Walz’s desk.

The governor must name a successor to fill the vacancy chambered in Little Falls. According to a press release, each candidate brings different facets to the legal landscape.

Luke Godzala is with the Civil Division of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office and has built his career around civil law and community engagement. His early career was shaped by his role as a law clerk for the very judge he could potentially replace. His path has brought him through the St. Cloud City Attorney’s Office and to work with the Stearns County Drug Court Team.

Meriel Lester’s career has been as a criminal prosecutor. She is the assistant chief in the Criminal Division of the Stearns County Attorney’s Office with a focus on intimate partner violence and human trafficking cases. Lester helped shape the county’s approach to domestic violence through her work developing specialized courts and now serves as the designated prosecutor for a regional human trafficking task force.

The third candidate, Laura Welle, is with the Morrison County Attorney’s Office. Her focus has centered on felony prosecution and child protection. She has previous experience in prosecuting cases in Crow Wing and Becker counties.

All three attorneys successfully navigated the vetting process conducted by the Commission on Judicial Selection, which evaluates candidates’ qualifications and character before making recommendations to the governor.

___