September 9, 2020
Judicial Selection vs. Judicial Election
Our State Constitution requires judges to be elected by the voters from the area which they are to serve. In theory, this means you the voters get to decide who will be the judge in your judicial district. In practice, most judges retire during the middle of their term and allow an appointing authority in St. Paul to select their replacement.
Once appointed, our constitution requires the appointed judge to run in the next general election occurring more than one year after the appointment. Despite having never run for an election by the voters, the appointed Judge is labeled as an "incumbent" on the election ballot. Of the 24 judicial seats in the ninth judicial district, only one has been originally selected by the voters of our district. The others came to office through the appointment process.
Ben Lindstrom has served as the elected Cass County Attorney and has spent years appearing in a variety of Courts. He is running for District Court Judge because he believes YOU should select your Judges. This year do not settle for a selection made by someone else. TAKE YOUR COURTS BACK and vote Ben Lindstrom for District Court Judge.
August 8, 2020
A message from Ben:
Running for District Court Judge has been an extremely humbling experience. No campaign can be successful without other people who volunteer their time and effort to make things happen. While serving in the Cass County Attorney's Office over the last decade, I have had the pleasure and opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. Never could I have imagined the outpouring of support that I would receive in this endeavor. From turning two miles of rebar into posts for signs, to finding homes for those signs, people have turned out to make things happen. Thank you for your efforts! -Ben Lindstrom
July 27, 2020
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign...
The campaign to elect Ben Lindstrom District Court Judge is getting ready to kick it into high gear and the outpouring of support has been tremendous. Thank you to all those who have have requested or distributed Lindstrom for Judge signs throughout the Ninth Judicial District!
Given the size of our District, small signs in certain locations may be difficult to read or blend in with those of another candidate. Thankfully, the Committee to Elect Ben Lindstrom found a simple solution. Make the signs bigger!
The 4 foot by 8 foot Lindstrom for Judge signs have arrived. If you live in the Ninth Judicial District and have a potential venue for these large signs, contact the campaign at vote@benlindstrom.com
June 26, 2020
A sign of the times...
The first shipment of Lindstrom for Judge signs are here and June 26th is the official start of campaign sign season in Minnesota!
Your voice matters. Yard signs allow you to show your support and help inspire others to learn more about the judiciary and why our Constitution requires judicial elections.
Requesting a sign is easy. Simply visit the campaign website at www.benlindstrom.com/yard-signs and enter your information today!
June 21, 2020
Get ready...to take YOUR courts back!
The campaign to take YOUR courts back is getting ready to start. Minnesota Statute Section 211B.045 is about take effect across the Ninth Judicial District and allow the posting of our campaign signs everywhere! Stay tuned for how you can show your support by requesting a sign of your own!
June 2, 2020
The Filing Period Has Closed
The period for filing Affidavits of Candidacy has closed and Ben is one of only two candidates running for District Court Seat 4 in the Ninth Judicial District. This District is made up of seventeen counties: Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau
District Court Seat 4 in Cass County
The Minnesota Constitution establishes the judiciary and sets the term of office for all Judges at six years. Judges must be elected by the voters from the area in which they serve. Ben is running for District Court Seat 4 in the Ninth Judicial District. This seat is located in Cass County where Ben is currently serving as the elected County Attorney. All seventeen counties of the Ninth Judicial District vote to fill this position.
The Constitution Requires the People to Decide
After a judicial retirement, District Court Seat 4 was filled by appointment until a successor Judge is elected by the people. When a vacancy is filled by appointment, the Minnesota Constitution requires the voters to decide who should fill the seat at the next general election occurring more than one year after the appointment.
May 28, 2020
Ben files to run for District Court Judge
Every judicial election starts with the filing of an affidavit of candidacy during the two week filing period. This year, the filing period opened May 19, 2020 and closes June 2, 2020.
Ben Lindstrom filed his affidavit of candidacy on May 28, 2020, beginning the journey to election day on November 3, 2020.
