Judge’s Unprompted Ruling Declared Unconstitutional
The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards issued a public reprimand on Thursday to Mille Lacs County District Judge Matthew Quinn for his controversial ruling last year that declared a new state law restoring voting rights for people convicted of felonies unconstitutional.
Controversial Decision
Judge Quinn’s ruling, which was made without any prompting from the parties involved, deemed the law unconstitutional in cases where he sentenced offenders to probation. Despite the law stating that individuals with felony convictions regain the right to vote after completing their prison term, Quinn warned the offenders they were ineligible to vote or register to vote.
Reversal by Minnesota Court of Appeals
The Minnesota Court of Appeals found that Judge Quinn had no authority to rule on the law’s constitutionality and reversed his attempts to strip voting rights from several individuals. The law, which took effect last year, aims to restore voting rights to those who have completed their prison sentences.
Ethical Violations
The Judicial Standards Board determined that Judge Quinn violated multiple ethical rules by not acting in accordance with the law. The board’s reprimand emphasizes the importance of judicial adherence to legal standards and protocols.
Previous Reprimand
This is not the first time Judge Quinn has faced disciplinary action. He was reprimanded two years ago for publicly supporting former President Donald Trump and making critical comments about President Joe Biden, actions which were also found to breach judicial ethical standards.
