There were only 12 contested judicial races around the state. 118 races went uncontested. Like the rest of the races in Minnesota, it was a good year to be an incumbent. No incumbent judges were unseated by challengers. Of 130 total judicial elections around the state this year, every judge who wanted it kept his or her seat.
Two incumbents on Minnesota’s Supreme Court were up for reelection this year. Both prevailed. Associate Justice Paul Anderson defeated challenger Tim Tinglestad 60 – 39% and Associate Justice Lorie Skjervern Gildea, a mid-term Pawlenty appointee, defeated Deborah Hedlund 55 – 44%.
In the only contested Minnesota Court of appeals race, incumbent Judge Terri Stoneburner defeated second-time challenger Dan Griffith 58 – 42%. Griffith ran a fairly high profile, but limited budget race and brought statewide attention to proposals to appoint rather than elect Minnesota’s judges, a notion he strongly opposes.
Incumbent Judge Joseph Carter defeated Nathaniel Reitz in a First District Court race. Carter was the judge who had awarded a man, who was on probation for raping a 13-year-old girl, custody of his girlfriend’s 9-year-old daughter. The known sex offender went on to sexually assault the girl and has since been sentenced to 27 years in prison. This decision was the central issue of Reitz’s campaign. Evidently, it wasn’t enough to sway voters.
In an open Second District Court race, Gail Bohr bested challenger Howard Orenstein. Bohr, 64 will not be able to complete the 6-year term she’s been elected to, however, because Minnesota law requires judges to retire by age 70. Bohr is destined to be replaced by a gubernatorial appointment who will not have to seek approval from voters until 6 years after that.
In the Third Judicial District, 32-year incumbent Judge Lawrence Agerter prevailed over challenger Anthony Moosbrugger, who was just one year old when Judge Agerter was first elected to the seat.
In the Fourth Judicial District, incumbent Judge Philip Bush defeated Eugene Link for the Court 9 seat, Jane Ranum beat David Piper for the open Court 53 seat and Judge James Swenson fended off a challenge from Thomas Haeg for the Court 58 seat.
Randall Sleiter prevailed over Glen Jacobson in an Eighth Judicial District race.
Nancy Logering defeated Luke Stellpflug and Robert Varco prevailed against John Dehen in the Tenth Judicial District.