News Item
Sheridan Hawley, Stoney Hiljus Appointed to Fill Tenth Judicial District Vacancies

Posted: Friday, March 16, 2012

Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Ms. Sheridan Hawley and Mr. Stoney Hiljus as District Court Judges in Minnesota's Tenth Judicial District.  Ms. Hawley will be replacing the Honorable Karla F. Hancock and Mr. Hiljus will be replacing the Honorable Timothy R. Bloomquist, who both retired in January 2012. Ms. Hawley’s seat will be chambered in Elk River in Sherburne County and Mr. Hiljus’ seat will be chambered in Mora in Kanabec County.
 
“Ms. Hawley and Mr. Hiljus stood out from an excellent group of candidates.  Their experience, perspective, and commitment to public service, will serve them well on the bench,” Governor Mark Dayton said.

Ms. Hawley maintains a solo law practice where she represents clients in child protection and family law matters in district and appellate courts. She also conducts alternative dispute resolutions in juvenile, civil and family cases. Prior to this, Ms. Hawley was an attorney with Walling, Berg & Debele, and has provided contract services to the Tenth District Public Defender’s Office. Ms. Hawley coordinated the Early Neutral Evaluation Program in Anoka County within the first year of its inception and managed a program that aims to resolve criminal cases more efficiently. Ms. Hawley earned a B.A. from North Central University in Minneapolis, in 1988; and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, in 1992.
 
Additionally, Ms. Hawley is a member of the Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility Board and is Secretary of the Board of Mediation Services for Anoka County. She is actively involved with Eagle Brook Church’s junior high program and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Ms. Hawley resides in Hugo with her family.
 
Mr. Hiljus serves as the Coon Rapids City Attorney where he leads the City's in-house legal department.  He previously served as City Administrator and city council member of the City of Cambridge. Mr. Hiljus worked as the Chief Deputy Isanti County Attorney and as the Director of Legal Services for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.  He has served on various task forces including the Anoka County Domestic Violence Task Force, the Minnesota Association of City Attorneys conference planning committee and was recently elected an officer of the Association of City Attorneys.  Mr. Hiljus received a B.S., magna cum laude, from Minnesota State University in Mankato in 1992; and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in Saint Paul in 1995.  

Additionally, Mr. Hiljus has been an adjunct professor at Anoka Ramsey Community College and is an instructor with the Coon Rapids Police Citizens Academy. He has been a coach or judge in the Minnesota State Bar Association high school mock trial competition since 1997.  Mr. Hiljus resides in Cambridge with his family.
 
Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District consists of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington and Wright Counties.