MN AG Intervening After Mille Lacs Co. Judge Calls Felon Voting Law Unconstitutional

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is intervening after a judge in Mille Lacs County ruled the state’s new felon voting law is unconstitutional.

The law allows convicted felons to vote once they’ve completed incarceration, even if they’re still serving probation. But according to the Attorney General’s Office, Mille Lacs County District Court Judge Matthew M. Quinn sentenced people convicted of felonies to probation in at least six cases and declared that they are not allowed to vote because Minnesota’s Restore the Vote law is unconstitutional.

Two of the individuals have filed for writs of prohibition at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, claiming the judge exceed this authority. Ellison’s office is supporting the writs. AG Ellison said in a statement that he supports a writ of prohibition as the best option for quickly keeping Judge Quinn from “further violating our justice system and Minnesotans’ trust.”

Quinn was reprimanded by the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards two years ago for his public support of former President Donald Trump and his critical comments about President Joe Biden.