Committee takes no action on retention elections

May 11th, 2011 by Patrick Thornton

A house committee took no action yesterday on a proposal to change judicial elections in Minnesota to a retention vote.

Rep. Mike Beard

The House Government Operations and Elections Committee heard testimony on the bill introduced by Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee. Beard said that because so many state court judges run unopposed year after year there is not true chance for voters to be heard. He favors a yes or no vote on the judge’s competency.

“The overwhelming question I received was, ‘Who are these people? Who should I vote for? Why don’t they have any opponents?’” he said at the meeting.

Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Blatz and Tenth District Judge Susan Miles testified at the hearing.

A similar proposal was introduced last year in the DFL-controlled legislature and had momentum before it eventually stalled out in committee. The house bill has no senate version and remains a long shot with only a few days left in the legislative session.