Will judges in Minnesota become corrupt?

[Eric J in MN]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/563/5543773-2.html

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals just removed the last hurdle to preventing elected judges from peddling influence to wealthy Minnesotans and special interest groups. As time goes by, the livelihood of these judges will depend more and more on their campaign war chests, which they will need to refill for each election.

The public doesn't have time to read legal opinions to make up their mind at the polls. And judges, no matter how fair-minded, are not going to be impartial about keeping their job.

Sean Healey, Minneapolis.

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Anyone knows what he's talking about?

[wellstone dem]

1. Yes

The 8th circuit issued a decision which removes bars to judges seeking out and publicizing endorsements from political parties during the elections. The decision, which I haven't read, I believe is based on free speech grounds.

While I understand the free speech concerns this will affect the Minnesota Judicial system which has been remarkably removed from politics. Right now a bipartisan commission makes recommendations to the governor for appointments, and while it may be that Democratic govenors may appoint slightly more liberal judges and republican slightly more conservative, (Jesse Ventura by the way did a great job IMHO), the candidates were generally not as political as in many states. Each of these appointmented judges must stand for election. Now what have been relatively tame campaigns are likely to become very ideological. I hate to think what will happen to our judiciary.

[dflprincess]

2. I don't have the article in front of me

but if memory serves me correctly, the eighth district court ruled that the prohibitions put on taking political positions and what can and cannot be done in judicial races are unconstitutional. I don't know if this opens the door to party endorsement of candidates or not. It certainly would seem that the door has been opened for more money to become involved in these races and I imagine we will be assailed with commercials for judicial candidates just as we are for the other races. I am especially concerned about what this will do to the state Supreme Court.