S.F. No. 70 Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendment changing Minnesota judicial selection to gubernatorial appointment with voter retention elections replacing contested judicial elections

• Judges serve initial terms ending first Monday in January following the next general election (minimum 3+ years), then 8-year terms contingent on retention election approval

• Establishes Independent Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (24 members appointed by governor, Supreme Court, and legislature) to evaluate judges nonpartisanally and publish performance reports before retention elections

• Implements campaign finance reporting requirements for judicial retention elections, including 48-hour reporting for independent expenditures exceeding $1,000 and 24-hour reporting for expenditures exceeding $100 in final 20 days before election

• Requires judges seeking retention to pay $1,200 filing fee; constitutional amendment must be approved by voters at 2010 general election with implementation effective July 1, 2011