Alan C. Page

Born: August 7, 1945

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Notre Dame, 1967
• Juris Doctor, University of Minnesota Law School, 1978

• Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1993-present
• Assistant Attorney General, State of Minnesota, 1987-1993
• Special Assistant Attorney General (Employment Law Division), 1985-1987
• Associate, Lindquist & Vennum, 1979-1984

Bar admission: 1979 Minnesota

Appointed/Elected:

• Bar Activities: Member, American Law Institute, 1993-present
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1979-1985, 1990-present
• Member, Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, 1980-present
• Member, National Bar Association, 1979-present
• Member, American Bar Association, 1979-present

• Member, Advisory Board, Mixed Blood Theater, 1984-present
• Founder, Page Education Foundation, 1988. Assists minority youth with post-secondary education.
• Member, Board of Regents, University of Minnesota, 1989-1992

Personal: Wife: Diane Sims Page

Children: Nina, Georgi, Justin and Kamie

Hobbies: Runs 35 to 50 miles per week; Collects African-American memorabilia

Candidacy Questions:

1. Why did you originally run for a position as a judge?
I first ran for a seat on the Minnesota Supreme Court because of my strong commitment to public service and the realization that I possess the legal skills and temperament that suit an appellate court judge. I will be forever grateful to the citizens of Minnesota who have given me the opportunity to serve as one of their Justices.

2. Why should voters select you rather than your opponent in the upcoming election?
I believe the voters should re-elect me to the Minnesota Supreme Court based on the record I have developed during the past 11 and a half-years, which demonstrates that I have the ability, temperament and work ethic to serve the citizens of Minnesota on this Court.

3. What are the major issues facing the court on which you wish to serve? How can these realistically be addressed?
One major issue is insuring that our judicial system maintains its independence. Another major issue facing our judiciary is adequate resources to do the job. Currently, Minnesota’s Judges have case loads that are, on average, 49% higher than judges in other states. The result is that our trial court judges usually spend 11 minutes on a DWI, 20 minutes on a domestic abuse case and 3 minutes on most other misdemeanors. This issue can be addressed through increasing funding for the judiciary, using technology to improve our operations as well as continuing to develop innovative programs such as drug courts, mediation programs and the judiciary’s children’s justice initiative.

4. What are some of your accomplishments during your tenure as a judge of which you are most proud?
Over the past 11 and a half-years, I have been involved in making decisions on thousands of cases. Each one has been important. I have also been actively involved, as all justices are, with the courts administrative responsibilities.
I believe that I have made a positive contribution in all that I have done.

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? No. Making public comments on such issues requires some degree of prejudgment, which can only lead to a loss of the publics trust and confidence in our judicial system. Judges are required to exercise their judgment not their will. The decisions a judge makes must be based on how a particular set of facts in a case applies to the law. Therefore, if a judge cannot set aside his or her personal views, recusal from the case is required.

6. What else, if anything would you like voters to know about your candidacy that you have not discussed so far?
I believe that I have covered everything in this questionnaire that I would like voters to know about my candidacy.