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)
Filters
Everyone Benefits When Judges Come from a Variety of Backgrounds
Amid attacks on “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the need for representative state supreme courts is as urgent as ever.
State Challenges to Immigration Enforcement Practices
Recent lawsuits in Wisconsin, New York, and California explore questions about the role of state law in federal immigration enforcement.
IVF Users Face Uncertain Legal Landscape
State courts are grappling with questions like ownership over and rights for embryos.
Resistance to Public Policies Assisting the Poor
Property owners have challenged programs meant to assist vulnerable populations, alleging they are unconstitutional takings of private property for public use.
States, Not the President, Run Elections in America
The administration’s attempts to undermine or interfere with elections run afoul of constitutional delegations of responsibility.
State Legalization of Marijuana Is Changing Search and Seizure Jurisprudence
The smell of marijuana, on its own, is no longer considered to be evidence of criminal activity in many jurisdictions.
The Extra Hurdle in State Courts to Prove a Statute Violates the U.S. Constitution
Many states require a litigant challenging a statute as violating the U.S. Constitution to prove the statute is unconstitutional “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Book Excerpt: Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy
The U.S. prison system violates democratic social orders aiming to lessen racist and class hierarchies. Its development was not inevitable.