Letters: Don't overlook Al Quie's role in improving MN judiciary

Jul 15, 2023

One overlooked feature last weekend in the reporting about the death of former Gov. Al Quie was his pioneering role in improving the judiciary in Minnesota.

During his single term from 1979-1982, Quie, a non-lawyer, established an informal advisory group to provide guidance to him on selection of judges to fill vacancies on state court benches, which is the exclusive prerogative of the governor, although judges stand for re-election every six years.

Quie’s unofficial approach marked a departure from past practice in which selections to open positions were often made in the form of a patronage system based on political pay-backs, personal factors, and even friendships. While those considerations continued to exist — and still do to some extent — under Quie’s initiative merit became the most salient qualification.

While not novel, that process formed a template for other states and also is used informally by senators in recommending candidates for the federal judiciary to the [resident. It became enshrined in law here a decade later in 1989 when the :egislature created the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which now serves the official role of screening candidates for openings on most of the state court judicial positions and making recommendations, usually three per slot, to the governor, who makes the ultimate choice.

The process has its drawbacks. The body is somewhat unwieldy with 49 members, appointed jointly by the governor and Supreme Court, with diverse participants located throughout the state.

It also is limited in its scope, not extending to some high-level judicial leadership positions or the state Supreme Court.

Nonetheless, its existence has resulted in a generally higher quality of judges with less pronounced political or ideological leanings and increased the diversity on the bench in Minnesota, especially under Gov/ Walz, who has appointed an unprecedented number of women and ethnic, racial and gender-oriented minorities.

Although Quie’s single term was beset by many shortcomings, his role in broadening and improving the judiciary in this state constitutes a lasting legacy for which all Minnesotans can be thankful.

Marshall H. Tanick, Minneapolis

I have been a proud lifelong citizen of St. Paul and recently I feel as if I’ve been abandoned. I don’t know if the cause of this is a person or an entity, but living in St. Paul today is nearly intolerable. Let me share my current grading of St. Paul.

Leadership – Absent. Taxation – Outlandish. Safety – Dicey at best.

All of the following categories I rate as Appalling and Out of Control: Infrastructure – especially street and sidewalk conditions; Pan-handling; Homeless Situation; Mental Health Needs; Drug Dealings; Car Theft; Car Racing; Littering; Vandalism; Break-ins, and I could go on and on.

I am on the verge of fleeing my beloved city. Please, St. Paul, I’m begging you – keep me (and perhaps hundreds of others) from seeking a peaceful, lawful, affordable home in another city or community. It’s unimaginable to leave our gems – Como Park, Summit Avenue, our other parks; the Capitol grounds and many more – but I feel I’ve been treated like a jilted lover.

To the powers that be – take action, or better yet – take a walk through downtown and your own neighborhood. Remember what was and envision what could be again. As of now you’ve let the city and its citizens down.

Mary Spear Bangle, St. Paul

I was very disappointed to read that the Festival of Nations has been permanently canceled. Created in 1932, this gave people the opportunity to experience the customs, foods and traditions of other countries.

People are constantly yelling for diversity in everything. This festival was the epitome of diversity. The Festival of Nations was unique to St. Paul and was one of the many things that made this city special and great over the decades.

Again, they cite cost as a factor. How about funneling the money from the Summit Avenue tree removal, or the insane talk of filling in the trench from I-94? It seems to me that diversity is only talked about if it’s spearheaded for certain groups. It’s time the city government realizes that they are there for the betterment of all citizens and not certain focus groups.

Oh, and by the way, we lost our childhood home in 1970 to the City of St. Paul Schools. I’m still waiting for my reparations check.

Larry Geisen, Oakdale

Let me get this straight, so Kia and Hyundai are being blamed for rise of car thefts because they are not fully complying with federal anti- theft laws? So they’re the ones to blame?

Let’s look at it this way. Taking something that belongs to someone else, without any sort of permission, is theft.

I don’t care if the cars are easy to steal. It’s still stealing.

I don’t care if the keys were in the car and it was running. it’s still stealing.

Come on, public leaders and all defenders of law, let’s put the blame where it belongs. The blame goes solely to those who steal. It’s that simple.

Mark Kirchner, St. Paul

Customer service, I’m afraid, is dying.

I am a naturally friendly, courteous, conversant person who’s worked in customer service my entire life. Recently, I dined at a local restaurant. After a few bites, my friend discovered the chicken in her entree was raw. She told the waitress, who poked at the plate, remarked that some of the chicken looked cooked, and then departed. When she brought the check, she asked if we wanted a free dessert. What we preferred was a dinner without raw chicken, but we didn’t bother telling her. We knew it was a lost cause. At restaurants, this “shrugged shoulders” reaction is becoming more and more routine.

For decades I’ve lived near a locally owned grocery store, where I stop at least once a day and where the prices are higher than the bigger chains. This store has several metro-area locations. I’m grateful it is there, and I want it to survive and thrive. The morning/day crew is friendly, attentive and welcoming. The night/weekend staff is not. Last week, in the evening, three young men were at the registers, all on their phones. One of them rung me up with a half-hearted “hi.” Worse, instead of thanking me and asking if I needed my receipt, he merely held it up with a questioning look on his face.

I’ve learned to have low expectations there and at other businesses, but figured the owner might benefit from my observations. I sent him a polite email informing him of the store’s increasingly subpar service, even verifying the email address when he didn’t reply. Crickets.

Is it any wonder that our household prefers to order from the nearby pizzeria, with its polite order-takers and reliable delivery drivers, rather than go out and spend $50 for two entrees? At Trader Joe’s, a mile from where I work, their staff of all ages is happy to see me, or at least acts like it, and products are significantly less pricey than my neighborhood grocer … two reasons that justify my shopping there.

We are at historic lows for unemployment so I know that businesses are challenged. But if we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that adaptability is key. Some ideas: 1. Considering a work force who’s older (and often more mannerly), like the successful appliance store in my area staffed by silvery-haired retirees. (Interestingly, I applied online for a job at “my” grocery store two years ago — I’m 58 — and uploaded my resume. No one responded.) 2. Owners themselves showing up and tying on aprons so they can not only see what’s happening, but also model good service, including abstaining from phone usage when on the clock.

Poor service often leads to unhappy endings for businesses. Hopefully owners will realize this, and, to stay viable, do what they can to attract and retain customers and their disposable income.

Catherine Condon, Mendota Heights

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