Getting to know a judge
By M. Jeanne Oelrich | Woodbury, Minn.

During past elections, I have been frustrated by not knowing who to vote for when it comes to judges. We were not given any information about them, yet we were expected to vote.

This summer, outside the State Fair, I met Dan Griffith. He is running a statewide race for the Court of Appeals. I visited his Web site at www.griffithforjudge.com.
Finally I have some information and can intelligently vote for a judge. Dan is running for judicial accountability. He is not interested in partisan politics, but believes it is a judge’s responsibility to listen to the facts, find the truth and apply the law, not rewrite it. I agree with Dan. Judges have a dramatic impact on our lives and freedoms. We need to know who they are.

In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Minnesota to change the restrictive laws that prevented us from knowing about the judicial candidates. With information, the incumbent judges can be effectively challenged. Consequently, the Quie Commission, Justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court and a faction of the State Bar Association are now promoting a new plan to remove our right to vote for judges at all.

I am not excited about that. I am excited to be an informed voter, and I plan to vote for Dan Griffith for appellate judge. I hope you will join me.

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