Winona District Judge Jeffrey Thompson has been apppointed as the chief judge of Minnesota's Third Judicial District.
                    
Thompson will replace Judge Robert Benson of Fillmore County who will retire from the bench, and from the chief judge position, on March 31st.    

Thompson informed the news media of his appointment Monday.

He was appointed to his district judge position in 1998 and was re-elected to another six-year term last November.

Thompson has been serving as the district's assistant chief judge.

The Third Judicial District includes 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota.

The Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection is accepting applications for Judge Benson's Fillmore County judgeship until March 25th.

Interviews will take place on April 7th at the Fillmore County Courthouse in Preston.

Governor Mark Dayton makes the final appointment.