Public Notice Detail
Remarks of Chief Justice Russell A. Anderson- Investiture as Chief Justice
Posted: Monday, January 30, 2006
January 23, 2006, Landmark Center, 3:00 p.m.
Governor Pawlenty, thank you so much for entrusting me with this important responsibility, this wonderful opportunity and this high honor of serving the citizens of Minnesota as Chief Justice. I pledge to you my diligence and hard work in performing the duties of Chief Justice. To be appointed to a post which has been served with such distinction, integrity, and honor by those such as Robert Sheran, Douglas Amdahl, Peter Popovich, Sandy Keith, and Kathleen Blatz is indeed humbling. I pledge to you, and to all citizens of this state, my best efforts to carry on in their distinguished tradition.
It is also fitting on this occasion to thank Governor Pawlenty for his understanding of the judiciary—no doubt he gets some extra tutoring at home—and for his longstanding support, first as a legislator and now as Governor. Even in the difficult budget days, Governor Pawlenty tangibly recognized that the judiciary is a core function of government requiring a commitment of resources. Thank you so much Governor.
What can I say to you, Kathleen, but thank you for being here, for your very kind remarks, for the honor and privilege of having worked with you all these years, and—above all—thank you for your friendship that means so much to me.
Sue Holden, you have been a tremendous leader of the bar and partner with the judiciary. I’m grateful for your participation in today’s event.
To my wife Kristin, who not only has accompanied me on every step of the journey, but also has supported, loved me and carried me a part of the way, thank you so much. To my children—Rebecca, John, and Sarah—I will always treasure the love and support you have shown me. And to all my family gathered here today, you have my warmest and deepest gratitude.
To my wonderful colleagues with whom I work so closely—Justices Alan Page, Paul Anderson, Helen Meyer, Sam Hanson, Barry Anderson, and now Lorie Gildea—thank you so much for your friendship, your support, and your wise counsel. I am honored to be one of you.
This state is so well served by our outstanding Court of Appeals led by Chief Judge Edward Toussaint and I have been so proud to serve with them as an appellate judge in our state. I am grateful for the support you have shown me by your presence here today.
To the trial judges from whom I come and who are here, and to those who are on the bench this day in the courtrooms across our state, I thank you for your hard work and dedication in the cause of equal and accessible justice for all of the citizens of Minnesota. There is a part of my heart that will always be in the district court where I served as a judge for so many years.
To Sue Dosal, our State Court Administrator, and to our dedicated court staff here and around the state, the wheels of justice cannot turn without you. I thank you for your presence today and for your dedication and commitment to a more efficient and effective court system.
Last Monday, I had the honor of being present when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kosovo received an award at the annual meeting of our country’s Conference of Chief Justices. During the introduction of Chief Justice Haxhimusa, we were reminded that in those places in the world where the seeds of a democratic society are being sown, perhaps the most important contribution to assuring the success and survival of democratic principles is an impartial and fair judiciary—a judiciary set apart from the political fray and independent of partisan political considerations and with the noble cause of serving the rule of law and protecting the inalienable rights of the people.
During his acceptance speech, the Chief Justice of this recently war-torn nation quoted Thomas Jefferson, who promised “equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political,” and declared that an impartial judiciary is “a fundamental pillar of a democratic society.”
It was evidence that judicial independence isn’t just the province of judges, attorneys, or even the United States—it is a principle essential for preserving individual freedoms and securing the rule of law for people around the globe.
And following the Chief Justice of Kosovo’s powerful acceptance speech, as a number of my colleagues reflected on possible contributions of money and emotional support that could be brought to bear in aid of the newly democratic Kosovo, I was able to stand tall as the representative from Minnesota and talk not of paper resolutions and monetary support, but of our judges who have unselfishly volunteered, while on unpaid leave to serve in Kosovo, often to stand in harms way, to support the principles of an independent, impartial, and fair judiciary. And so, as I recited the names of Minnesota judges who have served as United Nations judges in Kosovo—Tim Baland, Bob Carolan, Dave Doyscher, Marilyn Kaman, Phil Kanning, Dan Mabley, Kathleen Weir, and Ed Wilson—the eyes of the Chief Justice of Kosovo lit up, and a broad smile of recognition and appreciation crossed his face, and he sends his greetings to all of you and to Judge John Tunheim.
That moment served as a reminder to me that democratic societies have at their core an impartial and fair judiciary, and that the survival of democracy depends on our vigilance in protecting this principle.
It also brings into clearer focus what is occurring here in Minnesota. In the ancient words of the Magna Carta, we are reminded that justice is not for sale, that we are accountable to the rule of law, and to our Constitutions and our Bill of Rights, and not to the platforms of political parties or special interest groups. There are those who seek to politicize the judiciary. There are those who seek to inject large amounts of money into our system, to influence the election of and subsequent decisions of judges. To them I ask that you and the people of Minnesota join me in one unified response: “In Minnesota justice is not for sale.”
It is so important that we judges, trial and appellate, stand together in this cause, stand with the bar, and stand with the citizens of this state, who have the most at stake. For the independence of the judiciary is not for the benefit of judges or lawyers; it is for the benefit of the people.
As we seek to preserve an impartial and fair system, let us remember that it must also be timely, efficient, and effective if it is to serve the cause of justice. I am committed to carrying on our children’s justice initiative to ensure that abused and neglected children are a priority in Minnesota’s child protection system and that we make decisions as wisely and quickly as possible to find them safe and permanent homes.
And, for too many years and too many lives, there has been a revolving door of justice in which tens of thousands of people are recycled—again and again—through our juvenile, family, criminal, housing, and probate courts because of their underlying drug addiction and mental illness. Public safety, unsustainable criminal justice, and health care costs and simple justice demand that we do better. And through the work of the Supreme Court’s multi-disciplinary Chemical Dependency Task Force, co-chaired by Judges Joanne Smith and Gary Schurrer, we think we know how. Trial judges, in particular, can join in the words of the old spiritual: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen….” The judiciary cannot turn this around alone. The executive and legislative branches are essential partners, but the judiciary is willing to lead and I am committed to this cause.
The challenges ahead are many, but so are the opportunities. We have a newly state-funded and unified judicial branch with an energized Judicial Council to chart its course. I stand here today with enormous gratitude for the opportunity to lead our judicial system. I am so honored to be given the privilege of working with such outstanding judges and administrators in this new capacity: to build together an even stronger and more effective justice system for this state.
Governor Pawlenty, I thank you for entrusting me with this high office. I will strive with all my might to be worthy of the confidence you have placed in me to serve well the people of Minnesota.