High Road to Judicial Elections

The newly formed Judicial Elections Campaign Conduct Committee (JECCC), launched earlier this summer, is preparing to help candidates for Minnesota judgeships conduct campaigns that are “consistent with the dignity and integrity of the office they are seeking,” according to David Stowman, a Detroit Lakes lawyer and former MSBA President who chairs the committee.

“The independence, impartiality and integrity of our courts are of paramount importance to the administration of justice in our society,” Stowman said. “The slightest appearance of impropriety poses danger to public confidence in the judiciary.”

The 11-member JECCC will contact all candidates for judicial offices, asking them to sign an affirmation to:

• Be personally responsible for the content of all statements and campaign materials;
• Refrain from making public comments about pending or impending court proceedings or announce their opinions on disputed political issues or make promises about how they would rule;
• Disavow any advertisement that announces their views on disputed legal or political issues or makes promises or commitments;
• Refrain from identifying themselves or their opponents as members of a political organization;
• Refrain from personally seeking campaign contributions. Candidates are encouraged to establish finance committees to raise funds on their behalf.

JECCC will work with local bar associations on races for district courts to monitor campaign conduct. Candidates who sign the affirmation will be able to announce their participation in the program.

Details on how the JECC will work can be found online at www2.mnbar.org/committees/jecc/OperatingProcedures.pdf  

The complete text of the affirmation candidates are being asked to sign is published at www2.mnbar.org/committees/jecc/Affirmation.pdf