District court judges dispense retail justice, handling a vast diversity of cases and becoming the embodiment of the law for most Minnesotans. Their skill and demeanor largely determine whether the legal system is perceived as fair.
Hennepin County voters will encounter a rare challenge Nov. 6 -- two district court elections in which neither candidate is an incumbent. Two judges are retiring at the end of their terms, leaving the choice of their successors to voters.
Fine trial judges come from many backgrounds, not least from prosecutors' offices, legal departments of major institutions, and large law firms. But we believe the bench is also well-served by judges who have practiced retail law, representing ordinary people facing ordinary (but for them, momentous) problems, and troubled people facing extraordinary problems. It's helpful, as one courthouse source puts it, if a judge knows what it's like to practice law when it's an achievement just to get your client to court on the right day.
Our assessments are informed by this conviction, as well as by interviews with the four well-qualified candidates and additional reporting.
Seat 44
Lois Conroy, 41, has been a prosecutor in the Minneapolis city attorney's office for 14 years. She has led a well-regarded community partnership effort called Downtown 100 to develop strategies for dealing with chronic offenders in the downtown area. She cites awards and recognition from law enforcement and business organizations as reflecting the quality of her work and her commitment to doing justice.
Marc Berris, 44, has for 18 years been an attorney in private practice representing a variety of clients in both criminal and civil matters. He also serves as a Conciliation Court referee and works part time as a deputy sheriff in Meeker County. He believes his almost daily courtroom work, along with his varied activities in the legal system, prepare him to understand and respect all points of view.
We believe Berris would bring an exceptionally rich range of experiences to the bench that makes him the better choice in this race.
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