Litigation

MN Activists Eye a New Try for Judicial Election Reform

By Peter Hardin

Advocates who want to change the way judges are selected in Minnesota are laying the groundwork for their next try, following derailment of a bill in the legislature for a proposed ballot question.

Former Gov. Al Quie told the Hennepin County Bar Association?s annual meeting  ?it?s too important an issue? not to continue pressing for judicial election reform, according to a Finance & Commerce article.

The ballot question was sought on a proposed constitutional amendment to  replace contested elections to decide on a sitting judge?s future with up-or-down retention elections. It also would have set up a non-partisan commission to evaluate judges near the ends of their terms.

Incoming Minnesota State Bar Association president Terry Votel said supporters of reform want to get more information to the public about the proposal. ?To the extent we can, we?re going to engage voters in a discussion,? he said. ?We believe [the measure] provides accountability for judges.

You can read about the proposal in Gavel Grab, and you can learn more about retention elections from Justice at Stake’s issues page.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 01, 2010 (boomark / email).