Lezlie Ott Marek was appointed on Thursday to the Ramsey County District Court bench and was sworn in surrounded by family members, friends and her new colleagues.

Marek was the last judicial appointment of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration. She was appointed to replace Judge Michael DeCourcy, who retired earlier this month.

Marek, 52, of St. Paul, chose Hennepin County District Judge John McShane, her friend and former law partner, to read the oath of office.

Marek, a civil trial attorney with 27 years of experience, is a founding shareholder and chief financial officer with the Hanson Marek Bolkcom Group in Minneapolis. She practiced primarily product liability defense and commercial litigation. She previously was an associate and partner with the Bowman and Brooke law firm in Minneapolis, where she worked with McShane.

She is a 1980 graduate of St. Catherine University and the fifth St. Catherine's graduate to be elected or appointed to the Ramsey County bench. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983.

PAT PHEIFER