Three recommended for Dakota County judgeship

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The Commission on Judicial Selection is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill the coming vacancy in Minnesota’s 1st Judicial District. The vacancy will occur upon the retirement of Judge Vicki Vial Taylor. The seat will be chambered in Hastings in Dakota County.

Ryan Bies is a shareholder at Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. in Apple Valley, where he serves both private and municipal clients. His practice consists of serving as a prosecutor for the city of Apple Valley, providing representation in civil matters to the cities of Apple Valley and Eagan, and representing private clients in the areas of estate planning and probate. Bies’ community involvement includes serving on the board of the iColin Classic charity and volunteering with the Lakeville Soccer Club and Burnsville Breakfast Rotary.

Baylea Kannmacher is a staff attorney with the Great North Innocence Project, where she works to free those who were wrongfully convicted in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of South Dakota Law School and Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she leads clinics focused on wrongful convictions and experiential learning. Kannmacher was previously an assistant public defender in the 2nd Judicial District Public Defender’s Office and a law clerk to Judge Joseph A. Bueltel in Minnesota’s 3rd Judicial District. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the State Board of Public Defense’s Wellness in Public Defense committee and as a faculty member for their statewide trainings. Kannmacher also volunteers at her children’s school and is a member of the Dakota County League of Women Voters.

Nicholas Wanka is the director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General. He manages a team of prosecutors, investigators, and support staff who investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and the abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. He previously worked as an assistant attorney general, as an assistant county attorney in Aitkin County, and in private practice. His community involvement includes coaching youth flag football and hockey and volunteering at his children’s schools.

For more information about the judicial selection process, please visit the Governor’s Judicial Appointments webpage.