Litigation

PAC Seeks Conservative Christians on MN Bench

By Peter Hardin

A new political action committee in Minnesota is backing a slate of judicial candidates with conservative Christian beliefs.

The Justice in Minnesota PAC was set up by two Republican activists,  Joe Salmon and Dorothy Fleming, according to an article in The Minnesota Independent. The group’s mission is to “?elect Constitutionally Conservative Judges who will interpret the law and remember the separation of powers in every court decision by applying only the law and the evidence to decisions from the bench.?

Recently four Christian lawyers backed by a group pledging to unify the “moral vote” were defeated in judicial elections in San Diego County, Ca., after drawing nationwide attention (see Gavel Grab). Defenders of fair and impartial courts raised concerns about a threat to judicial independence represented by such a slate of judicial candidates.

In Minnesota, one of the candidates backed by the PAC for the state Supreme Court, Tim Tinglestad, declares on his website–called Highest Hill–some of his thinking on the role of the courts:

?As God?s Word has been removed from our public lives, the resulting darkness has led to our present social disorder and political divisions.?

?The correction of these problems will only begin when the Light of Truth is returned to our land?s highest hills, the Supreme Courts. Until our highest courts return to an acknowledgment of the existence of God and His Truth, the people will continue to walk in the confusion of darkness.?

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 16, 2010 (boomark / email).