Minnesota
Minnesota’s highest court is called the Minnesota Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen in the same manner as the associate justices. (Source: Minnesota Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Minnesota Supreme Court justices are chosen to serve a six-year term through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. Justices may seek additional terms through nonpartisan elections. When a seat becomes open in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The justice holds office until Minnesota’s next general election more than one year after the appointment, unless the remainder of the seat’s term runs out before then. Multiple candidates may vie for a six-year term in a nonpartisan election. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Minnesota’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1857. As of January 1, 2026, it had 122 amendments. (Data on file with John Dinan, Wake Forest University.)
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The Many Versions of State Constitutional Lockstepping
The practice of interpreting state constitutions identically to their federal counterpart is often criticized in blanket terms. But the ways state courts lockstep vary widely.
How State Courts Can Help Deflect the Supreme Court’s Latest Blow to Multiracial Democracy
State courts need not import a federal doctrine directing judges to avoid issuing rulings that could change election rules in the runup to an election.
“State Capture” and the Role of State Courts
State constitutions offer powerful tools for combatting control of state and local institutions by private interests.
The Supervisory Power of State Supreme Courts, Explained
High courts’ authority to make rules on topics both mundane and profound can have substantial implications for civil rights and liberties.
Fines, Fees, and Bail in State Courts
Recent state supreme court cases, including a major California ruling last week, address the burden of court-imposed financial obligations on criminal defendants.
State Courts Offer Protection Against Pregnancy Discrimination
Courts in almost two dozen states have rejected the U.S. Supreme Court’s reasoning that discrimination based on pregnancy is not sex discrimination.
Can States Ban Federal Officers from Wearing Masks?
The answer likely boils down to whether courts believe masking is necessary for the federal government to do its job.
How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.