GRANITE FALLS — Yellow Medicine County Attorney Keith Helgeson has been nominated by the Commission on Judicial Selection as one of three contenders for the open bench in the Eighth Judicial District in Kandiyohi County.

The recommendations went to Gov. Mark Dayton late last week. The announcement of the appointment will be made following an interview process over the next few weeks, press secretary Sam Fettig said in a press release Thursday.

Helgeson, a 1991 graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, is being considered due to his extensive experience in practicing law in rural Minnesota.

As the Yellow Medicine County Attorney, Helgeson provides legal advice to all of governmental departments. He is responsible for the prosecution of all felonies and gross misdemeanors and supervised the appellate work and administrative appeals for the county.

Helgeson began his term as Yellow Medicine County attorney in June of 2006.

Prior to this position, he was the assistant Yellow Medicine County attorney from October 1993 to June of 2006. In this position, Helgeson was responsible for all criminal, juvenile delinquent, child protection, adult protection and child support cases.

Helgeson was also a law clerk for Judge Bruce W. Christopherson and Judge Marquis Ward in the Eighth Judicial District from October 1991 to October 1993. Helgeson researched legal issues and wrote legal memos and orders.

From June 1989 to August 1989, Helgeson worked as a paralegal for Schwan’s in Marshall. For Schwan’s, Helgeson was responsible for filing trademark applications and other legal tasks assigned by the General Counsel.

Helgeson was admitted to the bar of the State of Minnesota and the Upper Sioux Tribal Court. He belongs to several bar and attorney associations, including the American Bar Association and the Minnesota State Bar Association among other affiliations.

In the community, Helgeson participates in mock trial as an attorney coach, a board member of the Mellow Medicine East (YME) Hoops Club, a YME Hoops Club Youth Basketball Coach and a Little League baseball coach.

Helgeson is also a Granite Falls City Council member, Granite Falls Hospital Board member, Relay for Life co-captain and an active member of the Granite Falls Lutheran Church.

Two other attorneys were also nominated by the commission.

They are Aaron Jordan of Stevens County and Stephen Wentzel of Kandiyohi County.

This position is being vacated by the retiring Honorable Donald M. Spilseth and will be chambered at Willmar.