Lola Velazquez-Aguilu among finalists for U.S. Attorney for District of Minnesota

Lola Velazquez-Aguilu, a litigation and investigation counsel for Medtronic, is one of three finalists for the job of U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, according to sources familiar with knowledge of the selection process. 

Velazquez-Aguilu, a former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota, is being considered for the potential appointment by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Andrew Luger, who was U.S. Attorney for Minnesota from 2014-2017, is another finalist. 

If appointed, she would be the first Latina to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Most recently, Velazquez-Aguilu served as chairwoman of the Commission on Judicial Selection, appointed to the role by Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz in 2019.

She stepped down as chair of the commission last summer when she joined the team prosecuting the former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd on a pro bono basis. Jury selection opened this week in the trial of Derek Chauvin, who is accused of murdering Floyd in May. Three other former officers are scheduled to stand trial in August. 

Velazquez-Aguilu is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

She has also worked as an associate attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, and as a law clerk for United States District Judge Ann Montgomery and former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page.

A request seeking comment from Velazquez-Aguilu was not immediately returned.

In February, Klobuchar and Smith announced the formation of a selection committee chaired by Ramsey County Attorney John Choi to make recommendations for U.S. Attorney for Minnesota. 

The two senators bring their selections to President Joe Biden for consideration and approval and must also receive a vote from the U.S. Senate.