A primary primer: The Ramsey judicial race
by Barbara L. Jones Staff Writer
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Related: The Hennepin judicial race
When a judicial spot on the ballot is vacant, lawyers line up like thoroughbreds waiting for the starting gate to rise. As we reported last week, that’s the case for the one open seat in Hennepin County, where six lawyers are vying to replace retiring Judge Thomas Wexler. It’s also the case in Ramsey County, where eight lawyers are battling to fill the judicial vacancy created by the impending retirement of Judge John Finley. A primary on Sept. 9 will whittle the field down significantly, with only the top two vote-getters earning a spot on the November primary. With the stakes so high, the campaigning has already begun in earnest.
While the race looks to be hotly contested, it does not appear it will become overtly political, as judicial races have become in some states. (In Minnesota, judicial races are supposed to be nonpartisan, and historically have been.) Candidates for Finley’s seat plan to use traditional methods such as lawn signs, door-knocking and leaflets. None have expressed a partisan or special-interest-driven agenda; all said they are committed to public service and the administration of justice.
The following is a brief look at the eight Ramsey County candidates.
Joy Bartscher
Bartscher is an associate at the South St. Paul firm of Thuet, Pugh, Rogosheske & Atkins, which she joined last year after nearly 20 years at the Neighborhood Justice Center in St. Paul. She served as executive director of NJC, which represents low-income persons charged with crimes, for nearly 15 years.
Bartscher doesn’t have a fundraising system in place yet, but said she has received many offers of assistance. She plans to employ traditional campaign methods including lawn signs, door-knocking and word of mouth. “I hope people know who I am. I hope people know that I’m a good candidate,” she said.
Gail Chang Bohr
Bohr has been the executive director of Children’s Law Center in St. Paul since its founding in 1995. When she took over, the organization existed only on paper; it was Bohr’s job to break through the cycle of not getting money without offering programs, and being unable to offer programs why the money didn’t exist.
Bohr said her leadership skills and her experience with children make her an excellent candidate, as does her time practicing law at Faegre & Benson and as a judicial clerk at the Minnesota Supreme Court.
CLC includes staff and volunteer attorneys who represent more than 500 children at a time. Cases involving children compose a large part of the court’s docket. Bohr’s mantra — and that of her organization — is that everyone has to have a voice.
“I’m confident about my ability to be a great judge and I look forward to this campaign and election,” Bohr said. State Rep. Mee Moua is assisting Bohr with her campaign.
Richard Carlson
Carlson, a Maplewood attorney, told Minnesota Lawyer he is like that really good neighborhood restaurant that no one knows about, but when they find out about it, they wonder what they didn’t know about it. He referred to himself as an “old-fashioned general practice lawyer.” He has maintained a solo practice in White Bear Lake since 1985, fashioning a practice that allowed him to be a very involved father and sports coach.
His children are now grown and he has matured as an attorney, Carlson said. He’s been watching the court system for years now and wondering how well it works, but recently was inspired by watching Ramsey County Drug Court and seeing the dedication of those who work there. He decided he wanted to be a part of it. “I could do that. I have the concern for my fellow man,” Carlson said.
Carlson doesn’t have a financial system in place yet but isn’t worried about it. “I have no fears about raising money. I know a lot of people.”
Paul Godfrey
This is the second judicial race for Paul Godfrey, who practices insurance defense in St. Paul. He ran in a three-way race against incumbent Elena Ostby and then St. Paul City Council member Jay Benanav in 2006, but got knocked out in the primary.
Godfrey pointed to his extensive trial experience as something that makes him a good candidate. Although that experience is in civil work and a criminal caseload is a big part of a judge’s work, he believes his civil practice skills will carry over. “I have the ability to read people,” he stated.
Godfrey also said that he has the right demeanor for the bench. He is the son of the late Judge Otis Godfrey, who had a reputation among some as being difficult to appear before. Godfrey said that is different. “I’m not as smart, but not as mean,” Godfrey said.
In his last campaign, Godfrey raised about $16,000. He is hoping to raise more this time around and have more advertising.
John Guzik
Guzik practices law in Roseville, where he has accrued 25 years of trial experience, mostly in family law. He would like to bring that experience to the Ramsey County bench, where family law cases make up a good portion of the docket.
As a volunteer with the pro se clinic in Ramsey County, Guzik has witnessed the challenge presented to the system by the explosion of pro se litigation. The strain to the court system posed by pro se litigants and by the caseload in general worries him.
“The counties are really struggling to do more and more with less and less,” he said. “The administration of justice is not going to work.” Guzik also would like an opportunity to address issues that involve both the courts and the greater community, such as gun violence. “I would love to work on issues that go outside the courtroom,” he said.
Connie Iversen
Iversen said that with about 10 years experience as a public defender in Ramsey County, she is ready to hit the ground running. “I’m here all day every day. I know all the prosecutors and the court staff. I regularly work with the courts [on policy issues]. I’m the one who knows the nuts and bolts of the system. I don’t think judges should have a learning curve,” she said.
Iversen spent from 1992 to 1995 as a defender, and returned in 1998. She is now a managing attorney in the office.
Iversen said she is familiar with handling budget crunches. “Getting by is something you have to do. I’m expert at that as a public defender.” Funding drives the court and the defenders’ offices and always has, but crime rises when the economy weakens, she said. “If the economy doesn’t do a sudden turnaround, [cases] will continue to be delayed,” she said.
Iversen will have a website and a fundraising team in place soon, but said in the meantime has already gotten “tons” of support.
Howard Orenstein
Although he spent 10 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Orenstein stressed he is running as an attorney with 24 years of experience, not as a former lawmaker. During his legislative career, Orenstein played a role in some of the state’s significant litigation, including the tobacco case and the Minnesota Twins stadium controversy. Being a judge is the next step in his lifelong commitment to public service, he said. Orenstein has a long list of endorsements on his website, including those of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum.
Orenstein said that the court system is a place where people of color tend to be disproportionately represented, and he advocates measures to remedy that including interpreters and victim advocates. “The court system should be a fair reflection of the diversity of the community as a whole,” he said.
Despite his political background, Orenstein doesn’t plan a partisan campaign. He will be engaging in the various traditional judicial campaign events and public appearances. “Visibility is very important,” he said.
James Snyder
Snyder has a general law practice including family, business, real estate and employment law. He is a 1987 graduate of Hamline University School of Law and the son of former Fillmore County Judge Clement Howard Snyder, now retired. Snyder has long been interested in a seat on the bench and like the other candidates, gravitated toward the open seat. Snyder has practiced in District Court for the last 20 years and said he is very familiar with both courtroom procedures and the needs of the public.
The public should be able to know who judges are and how the process works, Snyder said.
“The court system is the means for protecting individual rights and obtaining relief from legal matters as well as deterring criminal matters. Its focus should be there rather than a broader focus of activism. I don’t have a particular agenda,” he said.
Like the other candidates, Snyder plans a traditional, nonpolitical campaign.
