After the 2008-2009 US Senate Recount here in MN, David Lillehaug, leader of the Franken legal squad that ran circles around Norm Coleman's LSAT flunkees, went back to less-public practice. But in 2013 he got a new job. DFL governor Mark Dayton appointed him as a Justice on the MN Supreme Court.
Now except for major deals like a Senate Recount or changing the legal definition of marriage etc., state Supreme Courts and their members tend to have (and like) a rather low profile. But now, this summer, thanks a little bit to David Lillehaug, thanks a lot more to Kossack diarist Intheknow, and most especially, mega thanks to the Minnesota GOP, the Supreme Court is, well, if not back in the news, at least enjoying laughing in the wings.
Below the Orange Cat-Snarl of Yarn I'll explain.
In MN the governor appoints justices to the Supreme Court, on his or her own, and not subject to Senate confirmation like at the federal level and in a lot of states. But, by Minnesota's Constitution, the first General Election after the appointment the newly appointed has to face the VOTERS. A simple majority gets you a 10 year stint until the next round of voting.
Mark Dayton appointed our man David Lillehaug (Lils!) last year, so this fall he is on the ballot. Lillehaug was the legal mastermind, lead attorney and all-around legal pro that led Al Franken's Recount effort in November of 2008...and December....and January of 2009...and February...all the way through JULY! (Trust me on this one, I followed it pretty closely.)
As is typical, the out party from the governor also runs a candidate against the appointee. Supposedly non-partisan, but its how this works. (In 1991, Carlson (R-normal) appointed a justice. In 1992 he was up for election/confirmation. The DFL put up Alan Page. B/c of his name recognition he won---1st time since the 1930s this result. Apparently that was pretty common up until WW2 but since then the appointees had had an almost perfect record of being sustained by the voters.)
The MN GOP put up a new Michelle (no, not Bachmann, but also from the MN-06) to run against Lillehaug, Michelle MacDonald. She's an attorney from St. Cloud. She got endorsed as THE sole, legal, only and uncontested-in-the-primary nominee at the GOP state convention about June 1.
SINCE then it comes out she was convicted in 2013 of Suspicion of DWI. Part of her sentence was her driving rights were limited to certain hours and a limited geographical area. Earlier this summer she was stopped and cited by police for a traffic issue---AND for driving outside of her geographic area...i.e. violating the terms of her DWI sentence.
After this magnificent display of judicial temperament comes the latest.
It is customary that MN holds a State Fair. (Last days of August into September; 12 days ending on Labor Day.) Among the semi-permanent structures on the fairgrounds the political parties each have a "booth." Various candidates come and meet the voters/press the flesh etc. It's a great way to meet a wide swath of voters from all across the state with little effort and for almost no money.
Back in 2008 Al Franken appeared at the DFL booth and Norm Coleman did the same at the GOP stand. (That same year Dean Barkley did the same at the MN Independence Party booth; got him 15% of the vote that November. Back in 1998 Jesse Ventura appeared in his Independent run for governor and his crowds looked like a grandstand show of aging rockers---and Ventura won it in a 3-way fight coming in over the top rope....)
As the Endorsed, Sole, Legal and ONLY judicial candidate of the MN GOP, Michelle MacDonald wants to press the flesh at the GOP booth at the MN State Fair. On Wednesday (Fair Eve as its know; children across Minnesota go to bed having left Pronto Pups and Tater-Tot Hotdish by the chimney for Santa) the Chair of the MN GOP, Ken Downey, announced he had polled the MN State GOP Executive Committee (aka the Politburo). They all agreed that Michelle MacDonald would NOT be welcome at the State Fair booth. No one can remember a situation like this.
Fellow Kossack Intheknow was jolly on the spot with a nice write up of the whole mess
HERE that deserved a LOT more in the way of Popcorn sales here at Daily Kos. After all, when the Party Chairman threatens to have a judicial candidate of his own Party arrested (for trespassing) at his own State Fair booth, I mean the comedic possibilities are VAST.(Paging Yaacov Smirnoff! Party looking for YOU!)
Well yesterday the State Fair opened and, as promised/threatened, Michelle MacDonald SHOWED UP. This time Intheknow is back, complete with press reports, pictures and VIDEOS, all of which you can find, read, watch, tip, rec and comment about HERE
The only sad moment was Chairman Downey promised to show up in person to turn Michelle away, but, like most cowards, he didn't show.
OTOH, since McDonald has threatened/promised to return EACH DAY of the Fair, Party Leader Downey has 11 more chances to provide....the best show of the Fair!
Don't you miss it! If you can't come to the MN State Fair or if you want Popcorn Futures to go up, well THIS is entertainment!
From yust southeast of Lake Wobegon (and hiding in a State Fair admission ticket booth at the north end of the grounds),
Shalom,
WineRev