1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the judiciary; creating a task force to 
  1.3             study and make recommendations on judicial selection 
  1.4             and retention. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [JUDICIAL SELECTION TASK FORCE.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] A judicial selection task force 
  1.8   is created to study and make recommendations on methods for 
  1.9   selection and retention of judges.  The task force consists of 
  1.10  12 members appointed as follows: 
  1.11     (1) three members of the house of representatives appointed 
  1.12  by the speaker of the house and three members of the senate 
  1.13  appointed by the subcommittee on committees; 
  1.14     (2) three members appointed by the chief justice of the 
  1.15  supreme court; and 
  1.16     (3) three members appointed by the governor. 
  1.17     Subd. 2.  [DUTIES; REPORT.] The task force shall study 
  1.18  alternative methods for selecting and retaining judges and the 
  1.19  advantages and disadvantages of various systems with respect to 
  1.20  promoting quality, integrity, and diversity in the judiciary; 
  1.21  public accountability; and other factors identified by the task 
  1.22  force.  The task force shall report to the legislature by 
  1.23  January 15, 1998, with its findings and recommendations 
  1.24  regarding changes in the system for judicial selection and 
  1.25  retention.