Three Finalists Named for Area Judicial Vacancy

Rochester, MN  (KROC AM News) -Three finalists have been selected for an open judicial seat in Wabasha County.

One of the three is expected to be appointed by Gov. Dayton to fill the vacancy created by last week’s retirement of Judge Terrence Walters.

The three are Steven Dittrich, a Rochester lawyer; Christopher Neisen, a private attorney in New Prague; and, Bruce Nelson, who is an attorney in Winona.

The governor is expected to interview the three and then make an appointment in the next few weeks.

Here's some background info on the three:

Steven Dittrich: Mr. Dittrich is a co-owner at Dittrich and Lawrence, P.A., where he represents individuals in all areas of family law. Previously, he was a Hearing Officer for Rochester’s Administrative Fine Enforcement Program, an attorney at Downing, Dittrich and Lawrence and served twenty-two years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a Judge Advocate General Attorney. Mr. Dittrich serves as a volunteer instructor for the Parent Education Program of Family Service Rochester’s Dissolution and Custody Planning Educational series. He also volunteers with the Law Library Free Family Clinics of Olmsted and Fillmore Counties.

Christopher Neisen: Mr. Neisen is a managing partner with Wornson, Goggins, Neisen, Morris & Brever, P.C., where he is a general practitioner and a Rule 114 Neutral. Additionally, he was recently appointed a Deputy Scott County Examiner of Titles. Previously, Mr. Neisen was a First Judicial District Child Support Magistrate, partner at O’Neill, Traxler, Zard, Neisen & Morris, Ltd., and a city prosecutor for the City of New Prague. Mr. Neisen is a Minnesota State High School League Basketball Official and a Director of the Matt Shetka Golf Foundation and Le Sueur County Pheasants Forever.


Bruce Nelson: Mr. Nelson is an attorney at Nelson Law Office, where he is a general practitioner handling family, civil, estate, bankruptcy, child protection, municipal, and commercial cases. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Winona State University. Previously, he was with Robertson, Blahnik and Nelson, where he served as Assistant Winona City Attorney and litigated a variety of civil and criminal matters. Mr. Nelson was a founding member of the Winona County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and currently serves on the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board’s Third District Ethics Committee.

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