Associate Justice Stras was appointed to the Court by Governor Tim Pawlenty on July 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Lorie Gildea to Chief Justice on July 1, 2010. Stras was a resident of Minneapolis and professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.
Tingelstad was an attorney from Bemidji, child-support magistrate for the Ninth Judicial District, former administrative law judge, former Assistant Beltrami County Attorney, and nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2004, 2008, and 2010.
Nelson was an attorney and computer programmer from Maplewood and candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.