Grand Forks attorney Thelen named district judge

The vacant seat on the Northeast Central Judicial District Court has been filled.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple announced Wednesday the appointment of Grand Forks attorney John Thelen to the bench.
Since 2009, Thelen has served as judicial referee and magistrate with Grand Forks County, focusing on areas such as juvenile court, family law and child support enforcement. Prior to that position, he was in private practice for 28 years, with an emphasis in criminal defense, domestic and family law, juvenile court, and civil commitment proceedings.
He will begin serving on the bench next month.
Thelen will fill the vacancy left by Judge Lawrence Jahnke, who retired in March after serving on the bench since 1989.
“John is a dedicated and highly qualified attorney who is well respected by his peers,” Dalrymple said in a news release. “His integrity and extensive experience will be a great asset to the Northeast Central Judicial District. I am confident he will bring to the bench the same sense of fairness and respect for the law that has defined his career.”
The Grand Forks courthouse has been in flux over the past few months. Former District Judge Sonja Clapp retired in December, and former District Judge Joel Medd retired from the bench in September 2013.
A fourth official, former District Judge Karen Braaten, died in October after a battle with cancer.
They were recently replaced by Judges Don Hager, Lolita Romanick and Jon Jensen.
The turnover has left just one veteran district judge remaining: Judge Debbie Kleven.
The Northeast Central Judicial District serves Grand Forks and Nelson counties.