3 justices seek post as Minn. Supreme Court chief

Three sitting justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court are Gov. Tim Pawlenty's only finalists for the chief justice position.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung confirmed Wednesday that Associate Justices G. Barry Anderson, Christopher Dietzen and Lori Gildea will be interviewed for the top job in the judiciary. The Republican governor hasn't decided when he'll announce his pick.

Chief Justice Eric Magnuson intends to retire June 30. All three finalists were appointed previously to the high court by Pawlenty.

By choosing a current justice, he will also get to pick a new justice for the seven-member court. The three justices under consideration for the chief position were the minority in a 4-3 ruling last week against Pawlenty's unilateral budget cuts.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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