Nelson is recommended for U.S. District Court judge

Star Tribune

Last update: November 3, 2009 - 7:33 PM

The name of Susan R. Nelson, a federal magistrate judge since 2000, has been given to President Obama with the recommendation that she become the next U.S. District Court judge for Minnesota.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., made the recommendation, leaving Obama to make the formal nomination.

Nelson would replace Judge James Rosenbaum, who earlier announced his decision to assume senior status this fall.

Before being named a magistrate judge, Nelson had been a lawyer with the Minneapolis law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi since 1984.

In the mid-1990s, she helped represent the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota in the historic litigation against the tobacco industry. She also was involved in other complex product liability litigation.

Nelson, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, is a former president of Minnesota Women Lawyers.

Announcing Nelson's recommendation, Klobuchar's office said she "will bring to the federal court a unique depth and breadth of legal experience. She knows the law, she knows the federal court and she knows Minnesota."

BOB VON STERNBERG

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