ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s highest court is about to welcome its newest member.

Gov. Mark Dayton is scheduled to name a new Supreme Court justice this afternoon. It’s his third pick overall for the top court and will fill the vacancy being left by Justice Alan Page’s retirement.

Dayton interviewed at least three finalists forwarded to him by a special screening panel. All of them are women.

Appeals Court Judges Margaret Chutich and Natalie Hudson as well as Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal were in the running.

Two are women currently on the seven-member court, but Justice Wilhelmina Wright is awaiting confirmation to a federal judgeship and could depart soon.

In Minnesota, gubernatorial appointments to judgeships don’t require legislative confirmation. Judges must periodically stand for election.