Fraters Libertas

A Johnson In Every Opening

After much heated debate amongst the editorial staff, Fraters Libertas is ready to offer our endorsements for the statewide judicial races here in Minnesota. If you want all the background information on the judicial candidates in order to make an intelligent, informed decision go here. But, if you want some half-baked advice from guys in boxers read on.

Minnesota Supreme Court

From what I can gather there are three positions on the MN Supreme Court up for grabs, but only one is being contested. That race features former Minnesota Viking Alan Page, the incumbent, against Magistrate Tim Tingelstad. There isn't much that stands out with Tingelstad, other than the fact that he graduated from law school at the University of North Dakota. But, in this case his educational background, and the fact that he isn't Alan Page is enough to get our vote. Alan Page lost four Super Bowls while playing with the Minnesota Vikings, and for those of us who grew up watching the Purple People Eaters those psychological scars have still not healed. And consider these deep thoughts offered by Page:

A quote from Justice Page on his re-election Internet home page summarizes his judicial philosophy: "The decisions made by the Minnesota Supreme Court affect the economic, community and family lives of all Minnesotans. Therefore, I believe a Supreme Court Justice has to understand not only the law, but life as well."

Fraters Libertas enthusiastically endorses Tim Tingelstad for Position Six on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

But what of the other two uncontested races? Often times voters like to have some fun with these contests and write-in the names of their favorite cartoon character or pet. But this year we want to offer a better write-in solution.

He's a blogger. He's a lawyer. And he's just the man to brutalize our criminals. Ladies and gentleman, your only choice for judicial write-in candidate for 2004 is...

...Scott Johnson from Power Line. He's got the name. He's got the know how. And in your hearts you know that he's got the 'nads for the job. Fraters Libertas encourages all right minded Minnesota voters to write-in Scott "The Big Trunk" Johnson in all unopposed judicial races.

Minnesota Court of Appeals

Position 3 offers a real choice for voters. Former Democratic congressman David Minge is battling Paul Elliot Ross. Ross is a member of the NRA, Minge the DFL. 'Nuff said.

Position 14 features a showdown between Judge R.A. (Jim) Randall and Daniel L. Griffith. Griffith served in the Army Reserve while Randall was in the Marines. Randall has been elected to the Court of Appeals three times, while Griffith lost his only previous race for public office in 2002 when he failed to convince voters that he was worthy of being the Koochiching County Attorney. Looks like we have a serious gravitas gap here. Besides, who can argue with this?

In the "Prabhudail" case [602 N.W.2d 413 (1999)], which dealt with whether the district court abused its discretion when it made a downward departure from the usual sentencing on a misdemeanor charge against a solicitor of an undercover prostitute, Judge Randall wrote in his dissenting opinion that soliciting prostitution "is not the most serious misdemeanor with which we deal."

Fraters Libertas endorses Judge R.A. Randall.

In the rest of the judicial races we remind you to:

Vote early, vote often. Vote for Scott Johnson.