The Commission on Judicial Selection recommended three candidates to Gov. Mark Dayton to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District after Rochester’s Judge Robert Birnbaum retired.

The judge will be chambered in Olmsted County. Rochester judges periodically hear cases in Mower County, which is also part of the Third Judicial District.

The finalists are:

— Jacob C. Allen is currently a partner and attorney at O’Brien & Wolf LLP where his practice focuses on criminal, commitment, and guardianship matters. Previously, he was an owner and attorney at Allen & Associates LLC and prior to that, was an Assistant Public Defender for the Third Judicial District. Mr. Allen is a volunteer with the Schaeffer Academy and Autumn Ridge Church and is the Olmsted County Bar Association’s representative on the Olmsted County Justice Council.

—Pamela A.W. King is currently an assistant public defender with the trial team of the Minnesota State Board of Public Defense, where she represents individuals statewide charged with high profile and complex felonies. Previously, she was an Assistant Public Defender for the Third Judicial District and an associate attorney with Baker Law Offices. Ms. King is a Commissioner on the Federal Advisory Commission of the National Commission on Forensic Science and the Board President of the Rochester Women’s Shelter.

—Eric M. Woodford is currently a team lead attorney in the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office, where he supervises a team of attorneys while maintaining a caseload of adult criminal matters and any appeals that may arise. He was one of four finalists for the two judicial vacancies in Mower County last year. Previously, he was an associate attorney at Johnson, Larson & Peterson PA handling criminal defense, family law, civil litigation, and estate planning. Woodford is a member of the Operations Committee of the Mayo Clinic Child and Family Advocacy Center and a board member with Rochester Better Chance.

Minnesota’s Third Judicial District consists of Mower, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca and Winona counties.

An announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks.