Minnesota judicial elections

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Judges in Minnesota participate in non-partisan elections in even-numbered years.

The state constitution reads that judges “shall be elected from the area in which they serve.”[1]

Primary election

In the non-partisan primary, the two candidates (for each seat) who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election.[2]


Supreme Court Court of Appeals District Court
Non-partisan election - Six-year terms Non-partisan election - Six-year terms Non-partisan election - Six-year terms

Filing

The filing period for offices contested in the November general election lasts for two weeks from the end of May until the beginning of June. Candidates file with either the county auditor of the county in which they reside or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Candidates must either pay a filing fee or submit a petition in place of the fee.[3]

Reform

Former Governor Al Quie, a Republican, has led a movement to amend the constitution to change the way judges are elected in Minnesota. In 2007, he headed a citizens commission called the Coalition for Impartial Justice that recommended the state scrap the contested elections and switch to a merit-based gubernatorial appointment system, similar to the Missouri Plan. The commission also called for a corresponding judicial performance evaluation commission, something common in states with a Missouri-style system. Under this system, judges would face retention elections, whereby voters would vote whether to retain or remove a judge, and the governor would select any necessary replacements.[4][5]

The Minnesota State Bar Association takes the position that a potential performance evaluation commission should include both lawyers and citizens, appointed by multiple authorities so as to provide checks and balances.[6]

By 2013, the bipartisan idea was losing support with Republican legislators, while still largely popular with Democrats. The issue did not appear on the 2014 ballot.[5][7]

Notes

Until 2002, the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct stated that judges could not seek or accept political endorsements. Judges were also prohibited from soliciting campaign contributions and discussing their views on contested legal or political issues. The U.S. Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled these provisions in violation of the First Amendment.[4]

Voters are informed when a candidate on the ballot is an incumbent.[1]

Results

Results are posted on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.

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Elections

See also

External links

References