City attorney now judge
Published 10:08 am Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Tuesday the appointment of Albert Lea City Attorney Steve Schwab as the new Freeborn County District Court judge. Schwab, 51, will replace Judge James E. Broberg, who retired April 29.
“Steve brings a broad legal background and a demonstrated willingness to take on an additional workload to the bench,” said Pawlenty during the announcement in Courtroom 3 at the Freeborn County Government Center. “He will be an immediate asset to the judicial system in the disposition of the court’s large caseload.”
Schwab was selected from three finalists, including Assistant Freeborn County Attorney Karyn D. McBride and Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David J. Walker.
Pawlenty said Schwab understands that in the judge position, he will need to be fair, diligent and thorough. He described the new judge as being personable and hardworking and said he was a “fine individual.”
Surrounded by his friends, family and courthouse co-workers, Schwab said he was humbled by the appointment, as this was helping him achieve a lifelong dream. It’s an appointment that’s all about public service, he said.
“I really think a district court judge has to be a member of the community if you’re going to be a judge in the community,” he said.
This is evidenced in the extent of Schwab’s community involvement.
Pawlenty noted that Schwab is a member and past president of the Freeborn County Bar Association, a member and past president of the Minnesota City Attorney’s Association and a member and former chairman of the 10th District Ethics Committee. He is also a member and past president of the Albert Lea Rotary, a member and past president of the Albert Lea Exchange Club, a member of the Albert Lea Family Y board of directors, a board member of Group Support Services and a mock trial coach for Albert Lea High School.
Schwab promised in his new position he would work as hard as any judge in the district, be fair and flexible and willing to listen to both sides of an argument, and take on the legacy that Broberg instilled of respect in the courtroom.
Everyone will be treated with respect, he said, and he expects respect for the system as well.
He thanked his mother for instilling into him a good work ethic and common sense.
Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen said city employees are supportive of Schwab in his new position, though this means the city will have to find a new attorney.
“This was his lifelong dream,” Simonsen said. “There’s lots of mixed emotions in losing this asset to the city.”
She, the human resources director and Schwab will be sitting down in the next few weeks and looking at the time schedule to get a new attorney in place, Simonsen said. She hopes to get the position posted within the next week, so that by the third week in August, Schwab can take a break before beginning in his new position.
She did not know the day the judge appointment would begin.
Schwab has served as city attorney since 1989.
Prior to his city attorney position, he was a corporate attorney with Farm Credit Service of Mankato from 1986 through 1988. From 1982 to 1986, he served as an associate attorney, as well as an assistant Brown County attorney, with the Berens, Rodenberg and O’Connor Law Firm in New Ulm.
He earned his juris doctorate degree from St. Louis University Law School in St. Louis in 1982, and his bachelor of science degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville in 1979.
Pawlenty thanked Broberg for his service and noted that Minnesota is known for having a good judicial system. This is crucial, he noted, because a democracy cannot function without the judicial system.