Supreme Court justices visit New Ulm

Blatz, Anderson

seeking re-election

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Two members of the Minnesota Supreme Court made a campaign stop in New Ulm on Monday.

Forbidden by the state constitution from voicing their opinions on specific issues, such as the death penalty and abortion, candidates Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz and Associate Justice Russ Anderson, provided insight into their career and their life.

"The restriction on judges is being disputed, and is a big issue in this year's campaign," Blatz said. "The law was passed in 1974 that states we cannot develop a platform or run with a specific party."

Not being able to legally announce her viewpoints was not the issue, but whether or not it is proper for a judge to do that, she said.

"It would not be proper for me to announce my personal views," she said. "My views don't enter into the decisions that are made in the court. People want fairness in the courts. To achieve that, I have to put my personal opinions aside."

Anderson said that he never made promises about a case when he entered a courtroom. He never looks at the parties involved, or the politics.

"When the cases come in, they are decided on facts in front of a fair and impartial judiciary," he said. "You sort out the facts, apply the law, and render a decision."

Candidates for the court are, by Constitutional law, supposed to be non-partisan. The whole issue of that goes to the very heart of the judiciary, which can erode the public confidence if a party is involved, Blatz said.

"I think it is awful to have people know in advance how you'll vote on a specific issue, like they do when a party is involved," she said. "People do need more information about judges. The election is meaningful, though, because people can vote out someone they feel is ineffective."

People should vote for candidates for the court based on their qualifications, experience, and adherence to the law, she said.

"What you've done as a judge to improve the administration of justice is important to voters," Anderson said.

There are 263 trial judges in Minnesota handling about 7,000 cases each, which is one of the heaviest caseloads in the nation. However, there is a shortage, and vacancies are filled on an emergency basis, Blatz said.

A pilot program in Watonwan County allows access to the court with cameras. The options at the end of the pilot program are to close it, extend it, or expand it to other counties, she said.

"We want to provide as much access as possible to the courts via television, because it is the people's court system," Anderson said. "The primary concern in the access issue is to avoid distractions in court as much as possible. There already is some access via interactive television."

Blatz, 46, believes she is a good candidate because of her long-standing love of the law. She desires to demonstrate results of decisions to the residents of Minnesota. She believes effectiveness and efficiency are the goals of the Supreme Court.

She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, and the University of Minnesota School of Law. She was an associate attorney in private practice prior to becoming assistant county attorney for Hennepin County. She has served as a state representative; a Fourth Judicial Court Judge; and was appointed as Chief Justice in January 1998. This is her first election since being appointed.

"I am poised to carry out what I believe," she said. "Justice is bigger than the courtroom. We need to provide better information to the public."

Anderson, 58, believes he is a good candidate because he wants to continue to improve the justice system in the state. He has dedicated his life to justice and loves what he does. He wants his experience to work toward improvement.

A native of Bemidji, he is a graduate of St. Olaf College, George Washington University, and the University of Minnesota Law School. He served on the Judge Advocate Teneral Corps in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1976. He has worked in private practice; served as Beltrami County attorney; worked as Ninth Judicial District Court Judge. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1998.