Judicial race information
For the most part, we (MPR) don't cover judicial races unless there's some sort of interesting hook, like a candidate dressing up like a cow. That's just the way it is with most of the media. And while I feel a little guilty about it personally, up until this year, I couldn't figure out a reasonable way to tell anyone about the candidates.
In the past, it was a pointless exercise to try since judicial candidates were prevented from seeking political endorsement, raising money, and speaking freely about the legal and political issues of the day.
Boy, in a state where the name Anderson can almost get you elected attorney general, one has to wonder what sort of criteria the voter brought into the booth on Election Day with regard to the race for a judge.
That changed, or at least I thought it would, with the Supreme Court striking down that law. But across the state, I've seen little change in how the media covers judicial elections.
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So I was interested to get a press release today from Minnesota Lawyer, about their election Web site they've set up specifically for judgeships.
It's actually quite refreshing -- and a tribute to the site's creators -- that there is robust information on there that actually distinguishes candidates.
One of the big issues, in fact, is the question of whether judges should bare their political soul. It's actually some of the most interesting reading I've done during the entire campaign season, and should help folks make up their minds.
Especially since nobody named Anderson is running