Natalie Hudson: On the importance of a fair and independent judiciary

Etched into the stone archway above the entrance to the Supreme Court’s Courtroom in the Minnesota State Capitol are five simple words: “Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins.”

Penned over three centuries ago by English philosopher John Locke, these words serve as a solemn reminder to everyone entering the Supreme Court’s chambers. They underscore the judiciary’s crucial role in upholding the rule of law, protecting individual rights and freedoms, peacefully resolving disputes, ensuring fair punishment and maintaining community safety.

This past fall, I had the great honor of being sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. In this new role, I bear the immense honor and responsibility of serving as the constitutional head of the Minnesota Judicial Branch and working with the dedicated judges and court staff who uphold the pillars of justice in our state.

I am fortunate to assume this position at an enviable time. Thanks in large part to the leadership of my predecessor, Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, the Minnesota Judicial Branch has become one of the most respected and admired court systems in the country. Minnesota receives high marks on national measures of ensuring access to justice for all people. Preeminent legal scholar Ernest C. Friesen identified Minnesota as among the best-managed court systems in the country. Court leaders in other states look to Minnesota as an innovator and pioneer in judicial administration and the use of court technology. Recent legislative investments have put our courts on solid fiscal footing and helped us nearly eliminate the backlog of cases that accumulated during the pandemic.

We should all be proud of the nation-leading court system we have built here in Minnesota. As your new Chief Justice, one of my primary goals will be to sustain and build on this success, and ensure our courts remain the most accessible and innovative in the nation.

One of the key ways Minnesota continues to lead and innovate is through our expanded use of online court hearings. During the pandemic, our courts turned to online hearings to maintain access to justice while critical public health precautions were in place. However, we quickly discovered that online hearings could help increase access to justice by eliminating barriers to attending hearings such as finding childcare, taking extended time off work, and paying for transportation.

As a result of overwhelmingly positive feedback from court users, Minnesota became one of the first states in the nation to embrace the long-term use of remote hearings. Today, more than half of all district court hearings in Minnesota continue to be conducted online. In the year ahead, we will be working to refine and improve how we use these remote hearing technologies, and pave a more permanent strategy for using both in-person and online hearings to deliver efficient and effective justice for the people of Minnesota.

Being responsive to the needs and expectations of court users is part of the very ethos of our organization. In the past month, we completed a statewide survey of court users, gathering more than 10,000 responses about how Minnesotans view their interaction with the courts, and what we can do better to ensure fair and timely access to justice.  In the upcoming months, we will be developing and implementing a statewide strategic plan to respond to this important feedback.

Innovating and evolving our courts to better meet the needs of Minnesotans is a vital way we can sustain and build the public’s trust and confidence in our judiciary. So, too, is ensuring that all Minnesotans – especially those in racial and ethnic minorities – trust our courts to provide fair and equal access to justice.

As the first person of color to serve as Minnesota’s Chief Justice, I am committed to building on the great work underway to break down barriers to our courts. Through our statewide Committee for Equality and Justice, we are working across our justice system to engage Minnesotans – especially communities of color – about the work of the Judicial Branch. Our goal is to consistently gather input and feedback on how the people we serve view and interact with the courts, and to identify and address disparities and inequities in our justice system.

The Judicial Branch recently implemented a new pre-trial risk assessment tool that will help judges make fairer, more informed decisions about what conditions to impose on defendants accused of crimes while they await trial. We also have efforts underway to increase the diversity of our jury pool to help ensure that juries are representative of the broader community. These are just two examples of how our courts are constantly striving to deliver fair and unbiased justice, reflecting the diverse voices and perspectives of our society. This commitment to equity and representation is crucial in upholding the integrity and trust in our legal system.

I will also use my position as Chief Justice to help preserve the independence of our judiciary and to keep our courts free from partisan influence. Minnesota has largely avoided the big money, politicized judicial elections that have plagued so many other states. I believe it is wrongheaded to insert partisan politics into our judicial system, and I will work with all Minnesotans to insulate our courts from external pressures and maintain their ability to administer justice impartially.

I also recognize that our courts must make every effort to prove that our decisions are unbiased and impartial. As members of the judiciary, our solemn pledge is to uphold the trust placed in us, to ensure that every verdict and judicial action is steeped in fairness, and that the scales of justice remain balanced for every case we preside over.

Being appointed Chief Justice is the honor of a lifetime, and I am humbled and awed to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity. Working alongside the esteemed judges and talented court staff who manage our statewide court system, I am committed to ensuring Minnesota continues to have the most innovative, well-managed, and responsive court system in the country. I look forward to supporting efforts that increase access to justice, eliminate barriers to our courts, and address disparities and inequities in our justice system. I will use my position to help educate the public about the work of our courts, foster public trust and confidence, and safeguard the independence of our judiciary.

“Where law ends, tyranny begins.” Five simple words written more than 300 years ago that still hold relevance in our modern world. A solemn reminder, etched in stone in our State Capitol, of the importance of a fair and independent judiciary, and our shared obligation to preserve a justice system worthy of this great state.