ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the validity of a new state law that allows convicted felons to vote as soon as they finish their time. The decision was a rebuke – a serious one – to a trial judge in Mille Lacs County. The appellate court said that Judge Matthew Quinn had ventured behind his authority in ordering at least six defendants to never vote the rest of ther lives. Quinn’s sentencing documents contained an identical memo calling the new voting law unconstitutional. The appellate court made these points in a writ of prohibition against Quinn:
> Quinn violated a duly passed state law.
> Quinn was out of bounds as a trial-level judge to much around with questions of constitutionality.
The writ was the latest rebuke to Quinn, a diehard Trump supporter. He was reprimanded in 2021 by the he Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards for pro-Trump social media posts and for riding in a parade supporting Trump.
Quinn. Wayward Trump-supporting judge scolded for over-reach.
Quinn profile
Quinn is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and holds a 1999 law degree from William Mitchell law school. He was Appointed to the bench for Minnesota’s St. Cloud-based 7th Judicial District by Governor Mark Dayton. a Democrat, in 2017. He was elected to continue serving in 2018. His current term expires in 2025. He is chambered n Milaca. He handles more than 4,000 cases a year.
Political issue
The Democratic majority in the 2023 Legislature voted to allow convicted felons to vote after leaving prison. Their point: The felons had served their tme, and arring them from voting violated a key right of citizenship. Republicans opposed the change. It was thought, rightly or wrongly,. that ex-prisoners were more inclined to vote for Democrats than for Republicans. The GOP opposition was part of the party’s nationwide initiatives to disenfranchise groups that lean Democratic.