Following the decision by a Hennepin County judge to strike down the policing question on the upcoming Minneapolis ballot, the group YES 4 Minneapolis is speaking up about why there is a need for the amendment.
Terrence Moore, an attorney for YES 4 Minneapolis, shared what's next for the activist group and their hopes to appeal judge Jamie Anderson's decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court with News Talk 830 WCCO's Steve Simpson on Wednesday morning.
"The ruling came through late yesterday afternoon, and I have YES 4 Minneapolis as my client. We have appealed; the city of Minneapolis has also appealed," Moore said. "We will be filing a petition for accelerated review, a fancy name for saying 'Supreme Court, please listen to us right now, we don't have any time left.'"
For the policing question to get on the ballot by Friday, when absentee and early voting begins, the group and city will need the Minnesota Supreme Court to approve the question as it is written because the city does not have time to reword it.
"The city council has surprised me twice before, they're very fast when they need to be, but the reality is we're asking the supreme court to approve this language that is already on the ballots," Moore said.
When it comes to judge Anderson's decision being similar to the previous decision of striking down the question, Moore and his clients disagree.
"With all due respect, we disagree with the judge's decision. The question is for the voters. Can the voters look at it and say, 'Is this the public safety amendment?'" Moore said.
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Moore wants to have the amendment on the ballot, leaving the power over it to the voters.
"The voters should have the opportunity to decide, is this a good amendment?" he said.
Judge Anderson removed the question from the ballot because she said that it was not clear enough.
"In summary and as detailed below, the Court finds that the ballot new question does not ensure that voters are able to understand the essential purpose of the proposed amendment," she wrote in her decision.
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She also added that it was "unreasonable and misleading." Moore, however, says that the law states you do not have to put down what the effects of an amendment are. Because of this, he thinks their appeal will pass, allowing the question to be counted on the ballot.
"The question does not have to, and shouldn't carry the effects, with it on the ballot question because it just gives...the politicians too much opportunity to make statements there on either side," Moore said
Whatever happens, it will need to be done quickly, as voting will begin in two days.
