Gerald C. Martin

Born: September 28, 1944, New York City

Education:

• Princeton University, B.A. (1966), Major in Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs;
• Yale Law School, J.D. (1969)

Employment:

• Summer 1968, Federal Inspector of Poverty Programs;
• Summer of 1969, Clerk for Wall Street Law;
• 1969-1970, Domestic Peace Corps.-VISTA, Legal Aid in Duluth, MN;
• 1970-1978, Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Northeastern Minnesota;
• 1978-present, District Court Judge, Sixth Judicial District.

Bar Admission: Minnesota (1970).

Civic Activities: Mentor for elementary aged children; On the Board of Kids Voting and Minnesotans for Improved Juvenile Justice; Member of the Duluth Police/Community Relations Task Force, the Juvenile Fire-Setter Task Force, and the Children's Mental Health Local Coordinating Council; Served twice on strategy task forces for the Duluth Public School System; Helped to author the Duluth School District's Discipline Code; Recruited the first lawyers for the Volunteer Attorney program in Duluth; Played an important role in helping to establish the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth, a program that became a model for the rest of the country; have made many speeches to groups of students as well as adults about juvenile delinquency, as well as bullying, and have done training for teachers and administrators.

Personal: I have been married to Beverly Olson from Aitkin, Minnesota since 1973. Beverly is a weaver and homemaker. We have two children, Laurel, who is a homemaker, married, living in Hugo, Minnesota. Laurel's husband, Jason Bergum, works with computers for Hennepin County. He is a member of the Air National Guard and was activated for thirteen months after 9/11. Sam, our son, has completed two years at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Sam is in a double-degree program in violin performance and philosophy.

Hobbies: Reading, music, and photography.

E-mail address: gerald.martin@courts.state.mn.us.

Candidacy Questions:

1. Why did you originally apply (or run) for a position as a judge?
I originally sought appointment in order to be in a position to serve the community and to help people. That is why I was a Legal Aid attorney. I believed that, as a judge, I would have more power and opportunity to be of service.

2. Why should voters select you rather than your opponent(s) in the upcoming election?
I am the better candidate for my seat on the Bench because of my experience, integrity, diligence and dedication. I have done a good job.

3. What are the major issues facing the court on which you wish to serve? How can these realistically be addressed?
I am concerned about access to the justice system. We need more resources for Legal Aid, Public Defenders, and the Volunteer Attorneys. Court fees are becoming too high. Court support staff is also under-resourced.

4. What are some of your accomplishments during your tenure as a judge of which you are most proud?
I take most pride during my tenure as judge in the many individual cases in which I was able to make a real positive difference in the life of a child. I helped to initiate and maintain many programs which have provided strong support for juveniles, families, and neighborhoods. I played a key role in the creation of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, which has become a national model. I made Delinquency Court speedier and more effective and was an active leader in adjusting CHIPS Court practices to meet the new permanency policies. I initiated regular pretrials in divorce cases before they became commonplace.

5. Do you believe it is good policy to discuss disputed legal and political issues during judicial campaigns? If so, what issues do you plan to discuss and why? If not, why shouldn't such issues be discussed?
I do not believe that it is good policy to discuss disputed legal and political issues during judicial campaigns. To do so threatens the independence of the judiciary and may even invite corruption, as has been too often evidenced in other States that have weakened or erased the rules prohibiting such public discussion by judicial candidates. To do so also would detract from the appearance of the fair and impartial administration of justice.

6. What else, if anything, would you like voters to know about your candidacy that you have not discussed so far?
I am grateful to the voters for giving me the opportunity for serving them for 26 years as a District Court Judge. I very much hope that they will decide to allow me to continue.