Attorney's Office hires three prosecutors

The Carver County Attorney’s Office recently hired three new prosecutors: Melissa Jacobsen, Jennifer Stasney and Dawn O’Rourke.

Jacobsen and Stasney were hired as assistant county attorneys for the Juvenile Division. O’Rourke is an assistant county attorney in the Criminal Division. All three attorneys were hired to fill existing positions, according to a press release from Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler.“Melissa, Jennifer and Dawn each bring a wealth of experience to Carver County,” stated Keeler. “All three are talented public servants and dedicated to protecting the Carver County community. I am excited to add them to our team.”

Jacobsen comes to Carver County from Ramsey County District Court, where she was the law clerk for Assistant Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin. From 2006 to 2007, Jacobsen was a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Prosecution Division, where she gained courtroom experience.

Jacobsen has also volunteered at the Minnesota Children’s Defense Fund and the Minnesota Justice Foundation. She is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law and Bemidji State University. Jacobsen is the daughter of Lt. Jim Olson of the Carver County Sheriff’s Office.

Stasney comes to Carver County from Hennepin County District Court, where she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Daniel Mabley. From 2005 to 2006, Stasney served as a law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Prosecution Division, where she honed her trial and research and writing skills specifically on juvenile delinquency issues.

Prior to law school, Stasney was an Investigative Intern at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, where she gained experience interviewing defendants, witnesses, and victims prior to trial. Stasney is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

O’Rourke comes to Carver County from Hennepin County District Court where she was a law clerk for the Honorable Margaret Daly.

Previously, she gained considerable courtroom experience while serving as a law clerk in the Washington County Attorney’s Office and the Tenth Judicial District Public Defender’s Office.

O’Rourke is a graduate of Hamline Law School and Concordia University. Prior to attending law school, O’Rourke was a senior probation officer in Hennepin County Community Corrections, where she supervised some of the most serious criminals.