Nelson selected to state committee

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar chooses Freeborn County attorney to help recommend Minn.’s next U.S. attorney to the President

By Sarah Stultz | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, January 31, 2009

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson has been selected by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar to be on an advisory committee to help her recommend Minnesota’s next U.S. attorney to President Barack Obama.

The advisory committee — which will be headed up by former Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Lucinda Jesson — also includes former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, former Hennepin County Attorney Tom Johnson, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Tim O’Malley, and Minnesota Court of Appeals Chief Judge Edward Toussaint Jr.

Nelson said he has known Klobuchar for several years, and they served together on the Minnesota County Attorneys Association board of directors.

He has served as Freeborn County Attorney for 18 years, and from November 2003 to November 2004, he served as the president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association. He succeeded Klobuchar. He is currently a member of the association’s foundation board of directors.

Nelson also knows some of the other members of the committee, he said.

Craig Nelson

Heffelfinger served as an ex-officio member of the MCAA board when Nelson and Klobuchar were presidents. While Heffelfinger was in office as the U.S. attorney, his office handled a couple cases that came out of Freeborn County, Nelson said.

He has known O’Malley for several years as well in his roles with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, he said.

“I worked with him as president of the MCAA by promulgating a MCAA position paper to all 87 county attorneys, sheriffs and chief of police when the Minnesota conceal and carry law was being challenged and uniformity if filing and handling permits was required to assist the Bureau,” Nelson added.

Freeborn County has been a part of several pilot projects that involved the Bureau of Apprehension for speedy drug analysis.

“I am happy to serve and provide my advice and input into the decision-making process,” Nelson said. “My goal is to help the committee and Sen. Klobuchar select the best candidate to the job, knowing that her recommendation to President Obama will have great weight.”

He said as a county attorney in a small-to-medium-sized county in the state, he’s interested in the assistance the U.S. Attorney’s Office can provide in certain kinds of cases.

“I am interested in the most efficient and appropriate use of state and federal law to prosecute crime,” he said. “I know that a U.S. attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office can assist county attorneys throughout this state with regional, intrastate and interstate crime enforcement initiatives and assistance.”

Before being elected as the Freeborn County attorney, Nelson worked at the Minnesota Family Farm Law Project.

“I look forward to the advise and counsel of these distinguished members of Minnesota’s legal and law enforcement community,” Klobuchar said about the advisory committee in a news release. “At my request they will be looking for a U.S. attorney for Minnesota who is a seasoned, respected attorney; who is fair-minded and of impeccable integrity; who is able to work productively with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; and who is above all, committed to seeing that justice is done under the law and for the people of Minnesota.”

Because Klobuchar is the senior senator from Minnesota of the party controlling the White House, she has the duty to recommend a nominee for the position.

The committee will review letters of interest, conduct interviews and offer guidance.

After Klobuchar makes the recommendation, Obama will make an appointment, and the Senate will vote on that appointment.

The state’s next U.S. attorney will replace current acting attorney Frank Magill. Magill replaced former U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose, who stepped down following a series of management problems.

According to the news release, people wishing to be considered for the position of U.S. Attorney should submit letters of interest by Feb. 11 to: Chair Lucinda Jesson, U.S. Attorney Advisory Committee, Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar, 1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Letters may also be e-mailed to ljesson01@gw.hamline.edu.

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