Supreme Court Chief Justice State Judicial Office

Elections: 1857-present. The original term for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was set at seven years at statehood and the office was nonpartisan. The appointment of a new Chief Justice required the seat be on the ballot at the next annual election occuring more than 30 days following the vacancy. The term for Chief Justice was reduced to six years after a constitutional amendment passed in 1883. Partisan elections for the office were held 1894, 1900, and 1906 with nonpartisan elections returning in 1912. The first primary election for the office was also held in 1912. A 1956 constitutional amendment required that an appointment to the seat trigger a new election one year after the appointment is made.

Most recent elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/05/2024 Supreme Court Chief Justice General Natalie Hudson (Nonpartisan) won with 1,529,063 votes (63.43%) and a winning margin of +27.23
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Natalie Hudson Incumbent Woman Nonpartisan 1,529,063 63.43
Stephen A. Emery Man Nonpartisan 872,720 36.20
Scattering Write-In 9,023 0.37

Chief Justice Hudson was elected to a second term. Emery was a legal analyst and writer from Montevideo.

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11/06/2018 Supreme Court Chief Justice General Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 1,636,533 votes (99.07%) and a winning margin of +99.07
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea Incumbent Woman Nonpartisan 1,636,533 99.07
Scattering Write-In 15,390 0.93

Gildea was reelected to a third term as Chief Justice without opposition. Gildea resigned on October 1, 2023 to practice law. Governor Tim Walz appointed Associate Justice Natalie Hudson to the seat on October 2, 2023.

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11/06/2012 Supreme Court Chief Justice General Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 1,284,064 votes (60.02%) and a winning margin of +20.43
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea Incumbent Woman Nonpartisan 1,284,064 60.02
Dan Griffith Man Nonpartisan 846,956 39.59
Scattering Write-In 8,370 0.39

Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Gildea to Chief Justice on July 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Eric Magnuson on June 30, 2010 to return to private practice.

Griffith was an attorney from International Falls.

Clark was an attorney from Golden Valley and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.

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08/14/2012 Supreme Court Chief Justice Primary Lorie Skjerven Gildea (Nonpartisan) won with 145,018 votes (49.64%) and a winning margin of +28.68
Dan Griffith (Nonpartisan) won with 85,853 votes (29.39%) and a winning margin of +8.42
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Lorie Skjerven Gildea Incumbent Woman Nonpartisan 145,018 49.64
Dan Griffith Man Nonpartisan 85,853 29.39
Jill Clark Woman Nonpartisan 61,251 20.97

Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Gildea to Chief Justice on July 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Eric Magnuson on June 30, 2010 to return to private practice.

Griffith was an attorney from International Falls.

Clark was an attorney from Golden Valley and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 2008.

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11/07/2000 Supreme Court Chief Justice General Kathleen Blatz (Nonpartisan) won with 1,412,359 votes (73.13%) and a winning margin of +46.26
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Kathleen Blatz Incumbent Woman Nonpartisan 1,412,359 73.13
Burton Hanson Man Nonpartisan 518,912 26.87

Blatz was appointed to Chief Justice by Governor Arne Carlson on January 29, 1998 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chief Justice Sandy Keith on January 29, 1998 to retire from public office. Blatz was an Associate Justice at the time of the appointment. Blatz resigned on January 10, 2006. Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Russell Anderson to fill the vacancy on January 11, 2006. Anderson resigned on June 1, 2008 to retire from public office. Governor Pawlenty appointed Eric Magnuson to fill the vacancy effective June 3, 2008. Magnuson was an attorney from Inver Grove Heights. Magnuson resigned effective June 30, 2010 to return to private practice. Governor Pawlenty appointed Associate Justice Lorie Gildea fill the vacancy on July 1, 2010.

Hanson was an attorney from Edina, former Minnesota Supreme Court Deputy Commissioner, and GOP candidate for the 3rd CD in 2004.

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