Minnesota: Appeals court restores judicial election rules

In an en banc ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit restored provisions of the state code of judicial conduct that bar judges and judicial candidates from personally soliciting or accepting contributions from groups of fewer than 20 people, and from endorsing other political candidates. These canons were struck down by a three-judge appellate panel in 2010. A plurality of the en banc court found that the state has a compelling interest in preserving judicial impartiality and the appearance of impartiality.