Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken will lead the Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA) over the next 12 months. Hicken was elected president during the  Association’s annual meeting in Bloomington on December 7th.  

Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman was elected president-elect of the Association, Meeker County Attorney Brandi Schiefelbein was elected secretary, and Wadena County Attorney Kyra Ladd was elected treasurer. 

"As the Cook County Attorney, I come to this role with the perspective of a small county  attorney's office in rural, outstate, Minnesota -- we're similarly situated to nearly half of  Minnesota counties. MCAA has been invaluable in supporting the good work of my  office, and in this coming year I look forward to collaborating with our members and  partner organizations to find out how county attorneys can better serve each of our  communities, no matter how diverse we are in circumstance and experience." Hicken  said. She has prosecuted crime for Cook County since 2007 and has served as the  jurisdiction’s chief prosecutor and legal advisor since 2014. She is a founding member  of Cook County MN Restorative Justice, and she has a passion for treatment courts and  educating local government officials in tribal sovereignty and related topics. She is also  a member of both the Rural Justice Collaborative and the Beyond Big Cities initiative of  the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution.  

The Minnesota County Attorneys Association is the statewide professional association  for all elected 87 county attorneys and their assistants (over 800 attorneys). The  Association provides leadership on legal and public policy issues, fosters communication and cooperation among its members, and offers legal training to enhance professionalism among the county attorney offices.  

The following page lists the officers and directors of the Association for 2024.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT  

December 2023  

The Nominating Committee of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association recommends the following individuals for  service as officers and directors for the period of December 2023 to December 2024.  

President: Director: Molly Hicken, Cook County Attorney  President-Elect: Director: Karin Sonneman, Winona County Attorney  Secretary: Director: Brandi Schiefelbein, Meeker County Attorney Treasurer: Director: Kyra Ladd, Wadena County Attorney  Immediate Past President: Director Michelle Zehnder Fischer, Nicollet County Attorney Director: Shane Baker, Kandiyohi County Attorney 

Director: John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney  

Director: Jeff Edblad, Isanti County Attorney  

Director: Michelle Eldien, Otter Tail County Attorney  

Director: Joseph Glasrud, Wilkin County Attorney (Stevens County Attorney  

Designee) 

Director: David Hanson, Beltrami County Attorney  

Director: Kathleen Heaney, Sherburne County Attorney  

 Director: Ron Hocevar, Scott County Attorney  

Director: Kathy Keena, Dakota County Attorney  

Director: John Kelly, First Assistant Ramsey County Attorney  

Director: Janelle Kendall, Stearns County Attorney 

Director: Lauri Ketola, Carlton County Attorney  

Director: Kevin Magnuson, Washington County Attorney  

Director: Kimberly Maki, St. Louis County Attorney 

Director: Dominick Mathews, Managing Hennepin County Attorney  

Director: Pat McDermott, Blue Earth County Attorney  

Director: Barbara McFadden, Kanabec County Attorney  

Director Mark Metz, Carver County Attorney  

Director: Mary Moriarty, Hennepin County Attorney  

Director: Kristen Nelsen, Mower County Attorney 

Director: Mark Ostrem, Olmsted County Attorney 

Director: Janet Reiter, Chisago County Attorney 

Director: Don Ryan, Crow Wing County Attorney  

Director: Greg Widseth, Polk County Attorney  

 NDAA State Director: Janelle Kendall, Stearns County Attorney  

Submitted by the 2023 Nominating Committee:  

Molly Hicken, Cook County Attorney and Chair; Ron Hocevar, Scott County Attorney; Kathleen Heaney, Sherburne County  Attorney; Barb McFadden, Kanabec County Attorney; Mark Metz, Carver County Attorney.