Stillwater Area School Board Chairman Tom Lehmann must resign his position now that he has been appointed a district court judge in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District.
Lehmann, 56, of Woodbury, will replace Lawrence Johnson. He will be chambered in Anoka.
Lehmann “will bring valuable knowledge of both civil and criminal law to the 10th Judicial District,” said Gov. Mark Dayton in a statement announcing the appointment May 2. “I thank him for his willingness to serve the people of Minnesota.”
The district consists of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties.
Lehmann is a shareholder at the Eckberg Lammers law firm in Stillwater and represents the cities of Mendota, Mendota Heights and Lilydale. He has bachelor’s degrees in business administration, political science and history from Concordia College in Moorhead and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul
Lehmann said Thursday that he has always wanted to be a judge.
“I have always had a real strong commitment to public service, and this is just following in those footsteps,” he said.
Lehmann is required to resign from his elected position on the school board because district court judges are elected positions.
Lehmann said he expects his last day on the school board to be June 21, with his investiture ceremony the following week.
School district officials are working with legal counsel on the process for replacing him.
Lehmann was first elected to the school board in 2010. His term expires in December.