One of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's most significant final acts as governor will be appointing the next Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice.
Pawlenty said he expects to interview people vying for the job over the next month.
"We're settled on a process, but we haven't begun the interviews yet," Pawlenty said this week. "We are accepting people expressing interest."
Pawlenty isn't saying when he hopes to name a new chief justice.
Chief Justice Eric Magnuson announced he will step down at the end of June after two years leading Minnesota's highest court. He said he is resigning for personal reasons.
The new chief justice will be Pawlenty's fifth selection to the seven-member state Supreme Court.
One of Magnuson's most significant final acts could be ruling on a lawsuit challenging Pawlenty's emergency budget cuts imposed last summer. A ruling could come any day.
