Bipartisan group of distinguished Minnesota lawyers and law enforcement to lead search

MINNEAPOLIS, MN  (February 2, 2009) – On January 29, 2009, Gray Plant Mooty attorney Thomas L. Johnson was named by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar to an Advisory Committee that will assist her in recommending Minnesota's next U.S. Attorney to President Obama. The Committee will review letters of interest, conduct interviews and offer guidance to Senator Klobuchar.

Johnson served as Hennepin County Attorney from 1979-1991 and on the Minneapolis City Council from 1973-1977. He resumed his full-time practice at Gray Plant Mooty in 2008, focusing primarily in the areas of environmental and land use law, government relations, public law, and finance. Johnson has served on the board of directors for numerous state and national organizations and is the recipient of many awards including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Award, the President’s Award from the National District Attorney’s Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Professional Excellence Award, the Council on Crime and Justice’s 2008 Equal Justice Award, and the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers’ 2008 Profiles in Courage Award.

In announcing the Advisory Committee, Senator Klobuchar said: "I look forward to the advice and counsel of these distinguished members of Minnesota's legal and law enforcement community. At my request, they will be looking for a U.S. Attorney for Minnesota who is a seasoned, respected attorney; who is fair-minded and of impeccable integrity; who is able to work productively with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; and who is, above all, committed to seeing that justice is done under the law and for the people of Minnesota. Minnesota has a long tradition of outstanding U.S. Attorneys. This includes the current acting U.S. Attorney Frank Magill, who has guided the office through a difficult time. I have no doubt that, with this Committee's help, we will find an outstanding Minnesotan for this important law enforcement post."

The Committee also includes former Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Lucinda Jesson as chair; former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger; Tim O'Malley, the Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; the Honorable Edward Toussaint, Jr., Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals; and Craig Nelson, the Freeborn County Attorney and former President of the Minnesota County Attorney Association.