Public Notice Detail

CHICAGO, IL (December 8, 2000) – Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz today joins Chief Justices from 17 of the most populous states in the country for a two-day summit to discuss ways to improve judicial selection processes.  She leads a state delegation to the event, including Associate Justice Alan Page, Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, Representative Ron Abrams, Minnesota State Bar Association President Kent Gernander and Minnesota League of Women Voters President Judy Duffy.

Initiated by Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips of the Texas Supreme Court and coordinated by the National Center for State Courts, the summit aims to address the most pressing issues relating to the effectiveness of the judicial selection system.  More than 100 participants are attending, including academic experts and representatives of national organizations involved in judicial selection reform.  Participants will debate issues and identify options for reform in three key areas:

• The way judicial campaigns are conducted;
• The level of voter awareness and participation in judicial elections; and
• The unique nature of fundraising for judicial election campaigns.

Summit participants will review and discuss briefing papers that outline current thinking and practices in judicial elections, with particular reference to the factors that make judicial elections different from other elections.  Summit deliberations will form the basis of a “Call for Action” statement, which will be prepared following the summit.

In addition to Minnesota, the following states are participating: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.  The Joyce Foundation and the Open Society Institute are funding the event.