By Lori EhdeRock County voters will see a familiar name in the judicial column of the general election ballot on Nov. 2.Judge David Minge is seeking re-election to his seat on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He was appointed to the position two years ago when a judge retired mid-term.Now, his is one of 10 contested seats among the 102 open judicial seats on the ballot statewide. If elected, Minge would serve another six years on the court.Local voters will remember Minge as a U.S. Congressman representing southwest Minnesota from 1993 to 2001.During that time he served on the Agriculture Committee, Budget Committee, Joint Economic Committee and Science Committee and was active in the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats.While his work in Congress was rewarding, Minge said his role as an appellate judge is satisfying in other ways."It’s challenging work," he said in a Sept. 30 phone interview with the Star Herald. "I feel that it’s the type of work that allows me to contribute to making our judicial system effective."He explained that judges are responsible for applying the law as it exists."We should impartially apply the law to cases that come before us, and require that the trial court judges and state agencies fairly apply the law … I feel this is an important task and people in the state have to feel confident our laws are properly applied."Though appellate court judges are elected, Minge said they serve constituents more indirectly than other elected officials."We don’t represent constituents, so to speak, but [the election process] has served us well to date," he said. "We have avoided politics in our judicial system."That may be because judges follow a different set of campaign rules."Judges, unlike legislative offices, are not involved with fund-raising, so we don’t know who’s contributing, and we don’t participate in politics," Minge said."We’re prohibited from going to rallies and we’re prohibited from contributing to political campaigns."Minge said this is one way voters can evaluate judicial candidates. "They need to ask, ‘Has this person been fair and even-handed?’ That’s really what you’re looking for in a judge," Minge said.When asked why voters should support him, Minge said he received his current appointment through a merit selection process."I selected because it was expected I could do this impartially and be respectful of the court," he said. "My performance is out there for review."Before his appointment, a panel of judges investigated Minge’s background, and Gov. Jesse Ventura interviewed him and two others before making the appointment.Minge practiced law for 18 years and taught law for seven years at the University of Wyoming School of Law.He said his peers have recognized that he practices a solid judicial philosophy.In his brochure, Minge quotes James L. Baillie, president of the Minnesota State Bar Association. "David Minge has the judicial temperament of an outstanding judge," Baillie said. "His approach is calm, deliberate, balanced and respectful. His decisions are scholarly and represent a fair application of the law."Minge’s philosophy, he said, is to make sure laws are properly applied in cases. "That’s a challenge, in going through materials and understanding the cases, making sure trial court judges and state agencies are properly applying laws," he said. "We end up with responsibility for hearing appeals from all areas of the law and from all state agencies."Another way voters can make their decision in the polls is to watch endorsements by those affiliated with the Court of Appeals.Minge’s already been endorsed by the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Women Lawyers, Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota and the United Auto Workers.He has interviews pending via questionnaires with the Minnesota Newspaper Association, the Minnesota League of Women Voters and the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press.Links to these resources can be found on www.minge.org.
