Very Rev. Christopher Beaudet, JCD

Vicar Judicial

Father Beaudet is from Massena, New York. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and was ordained to the priesthood in the Jubilee Year 2000 after completing seminary formation at the Saint Paul Seminary with an M.Div. and M.A. in Theology degrees. Father Beaudet earned the Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.) from the Catholic University of America in 2010 and now serves at the Metropolitan Tribunal as Vicar Judicial, and at the Saint Paul Seminary as Vice Rector for Administration, as Assistant Professor of Canon Law, and as a Formation Advisor on the Formation Faculty. In addition, Father Beaudet is the weekend assistant at the Church of Saint Agnes (Saint Paul, MN).

Rev. Mr. Nathan Allen, JD

Associate Judge

Deacon Allen was raised in Japan, where his parents were Protestant missionaries. He was received into full communion with the Catholic Church as a young man. Deacon Allen was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2000, and served at the Cathedral of Saint Paul until 2006, when he began his current assignment as deacon at the Church of Saint Agnes in Saint Paul, MN. Prior to his appointment to the Tribunal in 2002, Deacon Allen was an attorney in private practice for several years, followed by four years as a legislative staffer for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Deacon Allen holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota, and has an indult from the Apostolic Signatura.

Rev. Joseph Atadana, JCD

Judge

Fr. Atadana was ordained a priest in 1988 in Ghana, Africa. He has a degree in Theology from the University of Legon in Ghana and a degree in Jurisprudence from the Angelicum University in Rome. Fr. Atadana earned his Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) from the Urbaniana University in Rome. His past work includes serving the Ghana Catholic Bishop's Conference from 1999-2007 and being a visiting lecturer for St. Victor's Seminary in Tamale, Ghana. Before coming to the Metropolitan Tribunal of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2007, Fr. Atadana was an Associate Judge to Tamale Provincial Tribunal in Ghana.

Ms. Lisa Bennett

Ecclesiastical Notary

Lisa was born and raised in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She received her Bachelor's degree in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas in 2002. She has been working for the Metropolitan Tribunal since 2001 as an Ecclesiastical Notary.

Mrs. Linda Botkin

Ecclesiastical Notary

Linda has worked for the Tribunal since 1984. Linda serves as an Ecclesiastical Notary on both First and Second Instance Courts.

Mr. Jay Conzemius, JCL

Defender of the Bond

Jay Conzemius graduated in 1997 with a dual degree: a Master in Canon Law from the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada and a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Subsequently, he served as the Vice-Chancellor and Director of Tribunal for the Diocese of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota until 2001. Jay then accepted an appointment as the Director of Stewardship and Development and Judge for the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, and in 2002 was asked to serve as Director of the Tribunal, Promoter of Justice, Defender of the Bond and Chancellor for the Diocese. In addition to Jay's canonical responsibilities in Madison, he also serves as a Defender of the Bond for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Advocate for the Diocese of Winona and Judge for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Christina Crow

Ecclesiastical Notary

Christina has lived in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis since childhood and currently resides with her family in St. Paul. She completed her Bachelor's degree in 1999 and is presently pursuing her Master's degree, both from the University of St. Thomas. She spent a number of years working for Campus Ministry at UST and for the Office of Marriage, Family and Life before beginning as an Ecclesiastical Notary for the Tribunal in 2003.

Rev. Jerome Fehn

Defender of the Bond

Rev. Fehn serves as a Defender of the Bond.

Rev. Mr. John Flood

Defender of the Bond

Rev. Mr. Flood serves as a Defender of the Bond.

Mrs. Michelle Gerlach

Defender of the Bond

Michelle graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1997 with a double major in theology and Catholic Studies and a minor in classical languages. She began working for the Tribunal in 1999, first as an ecclesiastical notary, and now as a Defender of the Bond. Michelle currently serves the Tribunal from her home in Milwaukee, WI.

Rev. Mr. Richard Klish, Ph.D

Director of the Metropolitan Tribunal, Associate Judge

Deacon Klish joined the Tribunal staff in 2002 as an Auditor/Assessor. He became an Associate Judge in 2003 and is now the Tribunal Director. He holds a Ph.D in English from Michigan State University and an MBA with a financial concentration from the College of St. Thomas. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 2000 and currently serves at St. John Neumann parish in Eagan, MN.

Mr. Jonathan Kopecky, JD

Associate Judge

Jonathan was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and came to Minnesota in 1991 to attend the University of St. Thomas. After Jonathan acquired his B.A. in 1995 majoring in Political Science and Theology, he then moved on to Saint Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, MO were he obtained his Juris Doctor with a certification in Health Law. Jonathan practiced law in the state of Iowa after being admitted to the Bar in 1999 and currently is licensed to practice law in the state of Minnesota. Jonathan has been with the Tribunal of the Archdiocese since January 2004, initially as an Auditor. After receiving an Indult from the Signatura he was appointed Associate Judge by the Archbishop in July of 2005.

Rev. Jonathan Licari, OSB, JCD

Judge

Rev. Licari serves as a Judge

Rev. David McCauley

Associate Judge

Fr. McCauley has served as a Judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal since 1997. He previously was on staff for the Tribunal in Fargo, ND beginning in 1986. Fr. McCauley's past experience includes being the Executive Director of the MN Catholic Conference from 1995-2001, and as Pastor of St. Ambrose church in Woodbury, MN from 2001-02. He currently is the Pastor of of St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul.

Rev. James McConville, JCL

Adjudant Vicar Judicial

Fr. McConville received a BA in Philosophy from the College of St. Thomas in 1986. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1990 after completing his M.Div degree from the St. Paul Seminary. He served as a Parochial Vicar, Theology Instructor and Army Chaplain until 2003, when Fr. McConville joined the Tribunal staff as a Defender of the Bond. In 2006 he completed a License in Canon Law (JCL) at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, where he currently works as an ecclesiastical judge and Adjudant Vicar Judicial.

Rev. Kevin M. McDonough, JCD

Judge

Rev. McDonough serves as a Judge

Mrs. Susan Mulheron

Student Intern

Susan has been an intern at the Tribunal since November 2007. She currently attends the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity and is pursuing an M.A. in Theology degree. Susan graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2004, and plans to study Canon Law after completing her M.A.

Mrs. Nwazi Nyirenda, MAPhil, JCL

Associate Judge

Nwazi was born and raised in Zambia. She studied for her Bachelor's degree in Malawi before going to Kenya for her Master of Arts in Philosophy degree. She then taught Philosophy at the University of Zambia and the St. Bonaventure College in Lusaka, Zambia. Nwazi studied Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, where she earned her JCL degree. She gave philosophy lectures at the Prince George Community College in Maryland before joining the Metropolitan Tribunal in 2008.

Mr. Michael Reisbig, JD

Defender of the Bond

Mr. Reisbig serves as a Defender of the Bond

Mrs. Cheryl Rutz

Ecclesiastical Notary

Cheryl joined the Tribunal staff in April 2008. Cheryl works in First Instance cases and assists in opening applications and generating the appropriate documents to move each case forward.

Rev. Mr. Gerald Scherkenbach, JCL

Defender of the Bond

Deacon Scherkenbach was ordained a deacon of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 1992. He holds a BA in Business Administration and Public Administration from the College of St. Thomas; MA in Theology from the University of St. Thomas; and Licentiate in Canon Law from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. He has served as a part-time Defender of the Bond from 1996 to 1999. On March 1, 1999 he joined the Tribunal on a full time basis and served as an Auditor from March 1999 to April 2003; and a judge from April 2003 to August 2008, when he was appointed to serve as a full time Defender of the Bond. As Deacon he has been assigned to St. Bernard Church in St. Paul, Highland Catholic Community (now Lumen Christi) in St. Paul, and is presently assigned to St. Joseph Church in W. St. Paul.

Rev. Thomas Walker, JD

Associate Judge

Fr. Thomas J. Walker was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1990 after earning his M.Div. from the St. Paul Seminary. He also holds a BA in Mathematics from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School. Fr. Walker currently serves as Pastor of Saint Ambrose in Woodbury, MN.