Supreme Court: Pawlenty overstepped authority on unallotment

[dpbrown]

Supreme Court: Pawlenty overstepped authority on unallotment
by Elizabeth Dunbar, Minnesota Public Radio
May 5, 2010

St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Gov. Tim Pawlenty overstepped his authority when he made unilateral cuts last year to balance the state's budget.

In a 4-3 opinion written by Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson, the court said Pawlenty's decision to cut a nutrition program came before the budget-making process was completed.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/05/05/unallotment-ruling/

[Angry Dragon]

1. Glad to see that happen to him

He is never in the state any more. He cares not except for himself.

[becxx]

2. No king for Minnesota

Thanks for the update!

I am surprised by the 4 to 3 rule. What is the deal? Do we have justices who believe in monarchies?

[trotsky]

8. The 3 dissenters are Pawlenty appointees, so no surprise there.

Only Chief Justice Magnuson, also a Pukelenty appointee but who is stepping down and thus not beholden to the political machine, ruled correctly.

[glinda]

3. Good. TP (get the pun?) is full of his self.

[dodger501]

4. Is he regretting appointing Magnuson?

Did he realize he was getting someone who actually interprets law?

[dflprincess]

5. So far Minnesota has done a pretty good job of not politicizing its Supreme Court no matter

who is governor.

I believe (and I know a couple DUers who could explain it better) there is a bipartisan group that recommends names to whoever is governor when there is a vacancy and, so far, the governors have listened. I'm sure this decision, along with the Franken/Coleman decision will have Timmy & his pals gnashing their teeth and looking for ways to "fix" it in the future.

I worry what will happen now that judicial elections can be partisan.

[Minnesota Raindog]

6. Must be an "activist judge"

Isn't that what they all are when they ruled against Rethuglicans?

[wellstone dem]

7. Not one of those justices was appointed by a Democrat

Minnesota has a wonderful system, which has appointed pretty darned good judges. And there is no one I admire more in the legal profession today than the lawyers who brought this case on behalf of the most vulnerable and Chief Justice Magnuson, the author of the opinion.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I know Magnuson personally.

Used to work for him, years ago. He's a totally straight-up guy; I'm surprised a tool like Pawlenty appointed someone of his caliber and I'm very sorry he's stepping down.

[wellstone dem]

10. If you get a chance, please tell him for me

that I have never been so proud to be associated with the legal system, than when I saw his name on that majority opinion. I will miss him on the court. I probably don't agree with all of his decisions, but I trust that each has been made with integrity.