Dayton picks human services chief for judgeship
Gov. Mark Dayton has selected his human services commissioner, Lucinda Jesson, to fill a vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Jesson has been in charge of the largest state government department since 2011. The Minnesota Department of Human Services has a $36 million budget and 6,200 employees.
Dayton said in a news release Friday that Jesson did a superb job managing the department. He also said he has the utmost confidence in her judgement.
“Her impeccable qualifications for this position speak for themselves,” Dayton said. “I am certain she will bring the same measure of excellence to the Minnesota Court of Appeals as she has demonstrated during her service at the Department of Human Services.”
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Jesson said she was grateful for the new opportunity to serve the people of Minensota.
“Public service has been the cornerstone of my career, from my work as chief deputy in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to being commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services,” Jesson said.
Dayton had two appeals court judge vacancies to fill. He selected University of Minnesota deputy general counsel Tracy Smith for the other spot.
One vacancy is the result of Natalie Hudson’s appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The other is the result of the scheduled retirement of John Smith in February.