Minnesota Agencies

Screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the governor for all Minnesota district court openings. Members are attorneys and nonattorneys appointed by the governor and the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The Judicial Selection process in Minnesota has changed over the years. The "news clippings and documents," noted below, include more details about the history of the process.

The commission is composed of members, chosen as described below:

• The governor shall appoint seven at-large members to the commission who serve at the pleasure of the governor. The governor shall appoint one of these members as chair of the commission. The chair may but does not have to be an attorney. The governor may appoint attorneys to fill no more than four of the remaining six positions.
• The justices of the supreme court shall appoint two at-large members to the commission to serve four-year terms, ending on the same day the governor's term of office ends. The justices may appoint an attorney to fill no more than one of the two positions.
• The governor shall appoint two district members to the commission in each judicial district who serve at the pleasure of the governor. The governor may appoint an attorney to fill no more than one of the two positions.
• The justices of the supreme court shall appoint two district members to the commission from each judicial district to serve four-year terms, ending on the same day the governor's term of office ends. The justices may appoint an attorney to fill no more than one of the two positions.
• The appointing authorities shall ensure that the permanent members of the commission include women and minorities.