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Craig Monnier
Craig Monnier was a candidate for the Position 13 seat on the Third Judicial District in Minnesota. He was defeated in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Biography
Monnier was born in 1968 and grew up on his family's farm in Dexter, Minn. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1990, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa in 1991, and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. Monnier became the owner of Monnier Law Offices, LLC in 1997 and has been a corn and soybean farmer since 2001. He was a lecturer in the Department of Accountancy at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1998 to 2001 and was an officer in the United States Air Force from 1992 to 2006.
Monnier is associated with the following organizations: Minnesota State Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.[1]
Campaign themes
2016
Monnier participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies him to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I have represented people from all walks of life, in good times and bad, and understand intimately the pressures and difficulties these people experience as they move through the judicial system.[1][2] | ” |
When asked why he was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I believe it is of utmost importance the people who find themselves interacting with the judicial system have confidence the judge and judicial system are treating them fairly, regardless of their station in life or political affiliation.[1][2] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who he admires, the candidate did not give a response.[1]
When asked about his primary concern regarding today's judicial system in his state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | The "Old Boy Establishment".[1][2] | ” |
Elections
2016
Minnesota held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election occurred on August 9, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 31, 2016.[3] Incumbent Jeffrey M. Kritzer defeated Craig Monnier in the Minnesota 3rd District, Position 13 general election.[4]
| Minnesota 3rd District, Position 13, General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jeffrey M. Kritzer Incumbent |
57.41% | 98,548 |
| Craig Monnier | 42.59% | 73,108 |
| Total Votes | 171,656 | |
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results Tuesday, November 8, 2016: Results for All Judicial Races," accessed November 9, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Minnesota District Courts are all chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms. Candidates compete in primaries, from which the top two contestants advance to the general election. Sitting judges must run for re-election if they wish to serve additional terms. While party affiliation is not designated on the ballot, incumbency is. Sitting judges who reach the age of 70 while in office are allowed to serve until the last day of their birthday month.[5]
The chief judge of each district court is selected by peer vote for a two-year term.[5]
Judges of all courts are required to be "learned in the law" and under 70 years old.[5][6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Craig Monnier's Responses," August 24, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2016 State General Election Candidate Filings: Judicial Offices," accessed June 1, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Minnesota," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Revisor of Statutes, "2006 Minnesota Statutes," accessed July 30, 2014
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota
State courts:
Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals
State resources:
Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota
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