Minnesota
Minnesota’s highest court is called the Minnesota Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen in the same manner as the associate justices. (Source: Minnesota Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Minnesota Supreme Court justices are chosen to serve a six-year term through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. Justices may seek additional terms through nonpartisan elections. When a seat becomes open in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The justice holds office until Minnesota’s next general election more than one year after the appointment, unless the remainder of the seat’s term runs out before then. Multiple candidates may vie for a six-year term in a nonpartisan election. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Minnesota’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1857. As of January 1, 2024, it had 121 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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For those who want to know more about state constitutions, a compilation of tools including case databases, interactive maps, and more.
No State Actor, No Problem
Unlike the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions can impose obligations on private actors.
Fifty Unique, Ever-Changing State Constitutions
A new resource from the State Democracy Research Initiative makes the current text of all 50 state constitutions available and searchable on one site.