SF 2693

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution,
article VI, sections 7 and 8; establishing and modifying procedures for filling
judicial vacancies; creating a judicial performance commission; creating a
commission on appellate judicial selection; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006,
sections 10A.01, subdivisions 7, 10, 15; 204B.06, subdivision 6; 204B.34,
subdivision 3; 204B.36, subdivision 4; 480B.01, subdivision 11; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 204D; 480B; repealing
Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 204B.36, subdivision 5; 204D.14, subdivision
3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

ARTICLE 1

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted, article VI, section 7, will read:
new text end

Sec. 7.

deleted text begin The term of office of all judges shall be six years and until their successors are
qualified. They deleted text end new text begin Following appointment by the governor, each judge shall initially hold
office for a term ending December 31 following the next regularly scheduled general
election held more than three years after the appointment. Thereafter, the term of office
shall be eight years and until a successor is appointed and qualified and shall commence
on the first day of January following the judge's retention election. Judges' retention new text end shall
be deleted text begin elected deleted text end new text begin determined new text end by the voters from the area which they deleted text begin are to deleted text end serve new text begin , new text end in the manner
provided by law. new text begin A judicial performance commission shall evaluate in a nonpartisan
manner the performance of judges according to criteria that the commission develops and
publishes, and such other criteria as may be established by law, and its performance rating
for judges shall appear on the ballot in the manner provided by law.
new text end

new text begin article VI, section 8, will read:
new text end

Sec. 8.

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of judge new text begin , new text end the governor shall appoint
deleted text begin in the manner provided by law deleted text end a qualified person to fill the vacancy deleted text begin until a successor is
elected and qualified. The successor shall be elected for a six year term at the next general
election occurring more than one year after the appointment. deleted text end new text begin from a list of candidates
nominated by a selection commission, in the manner provided by law.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2008 general
election. The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that judges shall be
appointed by the governor from a list of names submitted by a selection commission,
evaluated based on performance after an initial term in office, and then retained or
removed regularly based on a decision by the voters?
new text end

new text begin Yes ....... new text end

new text begin No ......." new text end

ARTICLE 2

STATUTORY PROVISIONS

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 10A.01, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Ballot question.

"Ballot question" means a question or proposition that
is placed on the ballot and that may be voted on by all voters of the state. "Promoting
or defeating a ballot question" includes activities related to qualifying the question for
placement on the ballot. new text begin A ballot question does not include a judicial retention election.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 10A.01, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Candidate.

"Candidate" means an individual who seeks nomination
or election as a state constitutional officer deleted text begin , deleted text end new text begin or new text end legislator, or deleted text begin judge deleted text end new text begin retention in a judicial
office new text end . An individual is deemed to seek nomination or election if the individual has taken
the action necessary under the law of this state to qualify for nomination or election, has
received contributions or made expenditures in excess of $100, or has given implicit or
explicit consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures in
excess of $100, for the purpose of bringing about the individual's nomination or election.
A candidate remains a candidate until the candidate's principal campaign committee is
dissolved as provided in section 10A.24.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 10A.01, subdivision 15, is amended to read:

Subd. 15.

Election.

"Election" means a primary, special primary, general, deleted text begin or deleted text end
special new text begin , or retention new text end election.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.06, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Judicial new text begin retention new text end candidates; designation of deleted text begin term deleted text end new text begin office new text end .

deleted text begin An individual deleted text end new text begin
A justice or judge new text end who files as a new text begin retention new text end candidate for the office of chief justice or
associate justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of the
district court shall state in the affidavit of candidacy the office of the particular justice or
judge for which the individual is a new text begin retention new text end candidate. The individual shall be a new text begin retention
new text end candidate only for the office identified in the affidavit. Each justice of the Supreme
Court and each Court of Appeals and district court judge is deemed to hold a separate
nonpartisan office.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.34, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Judicial elections.

When one or more justices of the Supreme Court or
judges of the Court of Appeals or of a district court deleted text begin are to be nominated at the same
primary or elected at the same general election deleted text end new text begin have filed for retention election new text end , the
notice of election shall state the name of each justice or judge deleted text begin whose successor is to
be nominated or elected deleted text end new text begin seeking retention new text end .

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 204B.36, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Judicial new text begin retention new text end candidates.

deleted text begin The official ballot shall contain the names
of all candidates for each judicial office and shall state the number of those candidates for
whom a voter may vote. deleted text end new text begin (a) The official ballot shall contain the names of all justices or
judges seeking to retain their office. new text end Each seat for an associate justice, associate judge, or
judge of the district court must be numbered. The words "SUPREME COURT," "COURT
OF APPEALS," and "(number) DISTRICT COURT" must be printed above the respective
judicial office groups on the ballot. The title of each judicial office shall be printed on
the official deleted text begin primary and deleted text end general election ballot as follows:

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end new text begin (1) new text end In the case of the Supreme Court:

"Chief justice";

"Associate justice (number)";

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end In the case of the Court of Appeals:

"Judge (number)"; or

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (3) new text end In the case of the district court:

"Judge (number)."

new text begin (b) A judicial retention election shall be placed on the ballot as a question, as
provided in subdivision 3. The question shall appear in substantially the following form:
"Shall ..... (name of judge) of the ..... (district court, court of appeals, or supreme court)
be retained in office? The Judicial Performance Commission has rated this judge .....
(qualified, not qualified)."
new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin [204D.30] RETENTION OF JUDGES.
new text end

new text begin (a) Within the time period established by section 204B.09, a judge seeking to retain
judicial office shall file an affidavit of candidacy with the secretary of state. All judges
who have filed an affidavit of candidacy as provided in this section shall be placed on
the appropriate official ballot at the next regular general election under a nonpartisan
designation in the form provided in section 204B.36, subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (b) If a majority of those voting on the question votes "No," then upon the expiration
of the term for which the judge was serving, a vacancy shall exist, which shall be filled as
provided in chapter 480B. If a majority of those voting on the question vote "Yes," the
judge shall remain in office for an eight-year term, subject to removal as provided by the
Minnesota Constitution.
new text end

new text begin (c) A judge seeking to retain judicial office shall be considered a candidate for
election to that office. A judicial retention election is not a ballot question for the purposes
of the Minnesota election law.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 480B.01, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Nominees to governor.

deleted text begin Within 60 days after the receipt of a notice of
a judicial vacancy, the committee shall recommend to the governor no fewer than three
and no more than five nominees for each judicial vacancy. The names of the nominees
must be made public. The governor may fill the vacancy from the nominees recommended
by the commission. If the governor declines to select a nominee to fill the vacancy from
the list of nominees, or if no list is submitted to the governor under this subdivision,
the governor may select a person to fill the vacancy without regard to the commission's
recommendation. If fewer than 60 days remain in the term of office of a governor who
will not succeed to another term, the governor may fill a vacancy without waiting for the
commission to recommend a list of nominees. deleted text end new text begin Within 60 days from the occurrence of a
vacancy in the office of judge, the commission on judicial selection shall submit to the
governor the names of three candidates nominated by the commission for the vacancy.
The names of the nominees must be made public. The governor shall appoint a qualified
person to fill the vacancy from that list of three candidates or may direct the commission
to nominate three additional candidates from which the governor shall appoint a qualified
person to fill the vacancy.
new text end

Sec. 9.

new text begin [480B.02] COMMISSION ON APPELLATE JUDICIAL SELECTION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Commission on Appellate Judicial Selection. new text end

new text begin (a) A commission on
Appellate Judicial Selection is established in the judicial branch. The commission shall be
a nonpartisan commission composed of nine commissioners. To the extent practicable, the
commission shall conduct meetings and perform other procedural functions following the
procedures as established in section 480B.01.
new text end

new text begin (b) All members of the commission must be residents of the state of Minnesota
at the time of their appointment and for the duration of their term. Members of the
commission may not hold judicial office, or serve as a public official as defined in section
10A.01, subdivision 35, while a member of the commission. Attorney members of the
commission must have resided in Minnesota and have been admitted to practice before the
Minnesota Supreme Court for not less than five years. Commissioners shall be eligible for
reappointment up to two additional full terms. Members of the commission who would
otherwise be eligible to hold judicial office may not be considered or appointed to fill a
judicial vacancy while they are members of the commission or for one year following the
end of membership on the commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commission members. new text end

new text begin (a) Members of the commission shall be
appointed and serve as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the governor shall appoint five members of the commission, one of whom must
be appointed to serve as commission chair. At least two appointees must be attorneys,
and at least two appointees must be nonattorneys. Gubernatorial appointees shall serve on
the commission until the governor who made the appointment leaves office or for a term
of four years, whichever comes first; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the chief justice shall appoint four members of the commission, two of whom
shall be attorneys and two of whom shall be nonattorneys. Appointees shall serve on the
commission for a four-year term.
new text end

new text begin (b) In making appointments, the governor and the chief justice must consider the
diversity of the state's population, as well as the importance of balanced geographic
representation, and appoint individuals of outstanding competence and reputation. The
governor and chief justice should consult with one another to ensure the requirements
of this paragraph are met.
new text end

new text begin (c) A member may be removed by the appointing authority at any time (1) for cause,
after notice and hearing, or (2) after missing three consecutive meetings. The chair of the
board shall inform the appointing authority of a member missing the three consecutive
meetings. After the second consecutive missed meeting and before the next meeting, the
secretary of the board shall notify the member in writing that the member may be removed
for missing the next meeting. In the case of a vacancy on the board, the appointing
authority shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
new text end

new text begin (d) Members of the commission may be reimbursed for expenses in the manner and
amount provided in section 43A.18, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (e) Initial appointments to the commission shall be made as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the governor shall appoint two attorneys, two nonattorneys, and the commission
chair, to serve four-year terms; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the chief justice shall appoint one attorney and one nonattorney member to serve
a two-year term; and one attorney and one nonattorney to serve a four-year term.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Nominations. new text end

new text begin (a) Within 60 days from the occurrence of a vacancy in
the office of appellate judge, the Appellate Judicial Merit Selection Commission shall
submit to the governor the names of three candidates nominated by the commission for the
vacancy. The governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy from that list of
three candidates or may direct the commission to nominate three additional candidates
from which the governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission must nominate qualified persons to fill a judicial vacancy based
on the following criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial
temperament, the ability to promote trust and confidence in the judiciary, common sense,
experience, and diversity. The principal consideration in nominating a candidate for
a vacancy shall be merit. The commission must make nominations in an impartial and
objective manner without regard for the political affiliation of the nominee or the governor.
new text end

Sec. 10.

new text begin [480B.03] JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE COMMISSION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose of commission. new text end

new text begin A Judicial Performance Commission is
established in the judicial branch. After public hearings, the commission shall adopt and
administer for all judges a process for evaluating judicial performance. The performance
review process must be designed to assist voters in evaluating the performance of judges
standing for retention, facilitate self-improvement of all judges, and promote the public
accountability of the judiciary.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Commission members. new text end

new text begin (a) The Judicial Performance Commission shall
be composed of 30 members, including two members from each judicial district, and ten
statewide members. All members of the commission must be residents of Minnesota at
the time of their appointment and for the duration of their term. Members appointed to
serve a judicial district must reside in the district they serve. A member of the commission
may not hold judicial office or serve as a public official, as defined in section 10A.01,
subdivision 35, while a member of the commission. Attorney members must have resided
in Minnesota and have been admitted to practice before the Minnesota Supreme Court for
not less than five years.
new text end

new text begin (b) Members of the commission shall be appointed and serve as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the governor shall appoint two attorneys and three nonattorneys to serve in a
statewide capacity, and one nonattorney to serve each judicial district. Gubernatorial
appointees shall serve on the commission until the governor who made the appointment
leaves office or for a term of four years, whichever comes first;
new text end

new text begin (2) the chief justice shall appoint two attorneys and three nonattorneys to serve in a
statewide capacity and one attorney to serve each judicial district. The chief justice shall
select one of the appointees to serve as chair of the commission. Appointees shall serve on
the commission for a four-year term; and
new text end

new text begin (3) members of the commission shall be eligible for reappointment up to two
additional full terms.
new text end

new text begin (c) In making appointments, the governor and the chief justice must consider the
diversity of the state's population, as well as the importance of balanced geographic
representation, and appoint individuals of outstanding competence and reputation. The
governor and chief justice should consult with one another to ensure the requirements
of this paragraph are met.
new text end

new text begin (d) Members shall perform their duties in an impartial and objective manner and
shall base their recommendations solely upon matters that are in the record developed
by the commission.
new text end

new text begin (e) A member may be removed by the appointing authority at any time (1) for cause,
after notice and hearing, or (2) after missing three consecutive meetings. The chair of the
board shall inform the appointing authority of a member missing the three consecutive
meetings. After the second consecutive missed meeting and before the next meeting, the
secretary of the board shall notify the member in writing that the member may be removed
for missing the next meeting. In the case of a vacancy on the board, the appointing
authority shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
new text end

new text begin (f) Members of the commission may be reimbursed for expenses in the manner and
amount provided in section 43A.18, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Meetings. new text end

new text begin All meetings of the Judicial Performance Commission are
subject to the requirements of chapter 13D, except that the commission may close a
meeting and meet in executive session to discuss (1) whether a judge meets or does not
meet judicial performance standards; (2) a judge's written responses to a finding that the
judge does not meet judicial performance standards; (3) a judge's appearance before the
commission; or (4) other matters that are made not public by these provisions, court rules,
or by law. The substance of deliberations in executive session may not be disclosed.
The commission may meet in executive session at any time upon a majority vote of the
commission members then in attendance. All voting must be conducted in public session.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Authority of commission. new text end

new text begin (a) The Judicial Performance Commission shall
develop written standards, subject to approval by the supreme court, by which judicial
performance is to be evaluated. The standards shall be periodically updated and must
include knowledge of the law, procedure, integrity, impartiality, temperament, respect for
litigants, respect for the rule of law, administrative skill, punctuality, and communication
skills. The commission may not evaluate judicial performance based on substantive legal
issues or opinions subject to standard appellate processes.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission shall establish procedures for collecting information and
conducting reviews and shall create and implement a program of periodic review of the
performance of each judge. The commission must request public comment and hold
hearings on the performance of all judges prior to the commission's final determination as
to whether a judge meets or does not meet judicial performance standards.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Surveys. new text end

new text begin (a) Midway through a judge's term and again no fewer than nine
months before the date of the election for retention of the judge's position, anonymous
survey forms eliciting performance evaluations shall be distributed to attorneys, litigants,
other judges, and other persons who have been in direct contact with each judge being
evaluated and who have direct knowledge of the judge's judicial performance during the
evaluation period.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Judicial Performance Commission shall employ qualified individuals to
prepare survey forms, process the survey responses, and compile the statistical reports of
the survey results in a manner designed to ensure confidentiality and accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The survey forms shall seek evaluations in accordance with the written
performance standards approved by the supreme court and must solicit narrative comments
regarding the judge's performance. Narrative comments shall be classified as private data
on the judge being evaluated, pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 12. In each election
year, prior to making its final evaluation, the commission shall request written public
comments and hold public hearings with respect to judges standing for retention.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin (a) In April of each general election year, the Judicial
Performance Commission shall disseminate a compiled data report to the judge being
reviewed. The data report shall include the survey results, narratives, written public
comments, and testimony from the public hearings. Based on this information, the
commission shall make a preliminary finding as to whether the judge meets or does not
meet judicial performance standards.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commission shall provide written notice to any judge standing for election
who has been found not to meet judicial performance standards. The judge shall have the
right to submit written comments to the commission and to appear and be heard by the
commission prior to the final vote of the commission.
new text end

new text begin (c) In each general election year, the commission shall vote in a public meeting on
whether a judge who is standing for retention meets or does not meet judicial performance
standards. Following the final vote, the commission shall compile a factual report on
the judicial performance of each judge standing for retention and shall make the report
available to the public one month before the time period established in section 204B.09
for filing an affidavit of candidacy with the secretary of state.
new text end

Sec. 11.

new text begin [480B.05] JUDICIAL RETENTION ELECTIONS.
new text end

new text begin Judicial retention elections shall be conducted consistent with the procedures
established by law for the administration of state general elections. Judges standing for
retention shall be placed on the ballot as provided in section 204D.30.
new text end

Sec. 12. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 204B.36, subdivision 5; and 204D.14, subdivision
3, new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end

Sec. 13. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Article 2 is effective upon adoption of the constitutional amendment proposed in
article 1.
new text end