This week, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the wording over a constitutional amendment that would require people to show photo identification at the polls … the decision they make will impact all Minnesotans.
That’s what the Minnesota Supreme Court does — seven members interpret the Constitution, enacted laws and legal precedents to make its ruling.
That’s what they do … it could be to rule that Governor Tim Pawlenty’s “health impact fee” on cigarettes” is a “tax” upholding the State’s power to increase taxes or that Governor Tim Pawlenty use of unallotment powers, the Minnesota Supreme Court ultimately decided against him, voting 4 to 3 in a decision … it decides contested elections (7-0 against Norm Coleman) and historically, it’s the Courts that decide redistricting.

Thus, the Court has great influence … prompting the question :
How would Tim Tingelstad rule ?

Tim Tingelstad is part of a trio of candidates running for seat as an Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court … against Pawlenty-appointed incumbent David Stras and Alan Nelson.

On August 14th, a Primary Election will be held to determine the top two to compete in November … considering that incumbents generally do well, the contest will be between Alan Nelson and Tim Tingelstad.

What distinguishes Tim Tingelstad is his avowed interest in to use the “Word of God” as a basis for making legal decisions.
Wannabe-Supreme Court Justice Tingelstad’s vision is outlined on his website :

the decisions of our Supreme Courts are correctly called “opinions” not “truths.”
God is the only source of Absolute Truth .
Absolute Truth cannot exist without God, and the only way to know the Truth of God is through His Word. God’s Word is Foundational Truth. God’s Word never changes. “All of scripture is inspired by God, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (II Timothy 3:16)
Every Word of God is pure, and we are instructed by God not to add to it. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
The authority of God’s Word is not a side issue, it is a foundational issue. How we respond to God’s Word will determine our eternal destiny as individuals, and will determine our future as a State and Nation. If we reject the authority of God’s Word, we will move away from Truth and away from God’s blessings.

This will be Wannabe-Supreme Court Justice Tingelstad’s fourth attempt to bring his “vision” to the Minnesota Supreme Court … having received the endorsement from the Republican Party in 2010 and being supported by the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Voter’s Guide—an antiabortion organization … receiving 619,701 votes losing to incumbent Justice Alan Page.

How would Wannabe-Supreme Court Justice Tingelstad rule on a variety of issues ?
Well, consider this quote from his website :
“It is not unconstitutional to bring the Word of God back into public education.”

Abortion is likely to be another legislative issue, and it may take a Supreme Court challenge to overrule it’s an earlier ruling, 1995′s Doe vs. Gomez.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has already ruled earlier this year on one aspect of same-sex marriage and a case brought by Minnesota couples will go to trial in Hennepin County … the outcome could eventually be decided by Minnesota’s Supreme Court.

Wannabe-Supreme Court Justice Tingelstad opponent, Alan Nelson offers a very simple judicial philosophy :
We also expect our government officials to refrain from imposing their own religious beliefs on the rest of the population.

A practicing attorney since 1992, Nelson writes on his website :
the separation of Church and State is what makes this country so great. It is what elevates our country so far above all others. We all have the freedom to practice our own religion, and that includes the right to be free of others trying to impose their religion on us. This is especially true as we walk into the classrooms and courtrooms of this state.
Check out Nelson’s website for more information about a variety of topics.

Thus it is August 14th … the day the Minnesota Supreme Court candidates will be decided.

Because of the number of contested Republican primaries — Allen Quist and Mike Parry in the First, David Gerson and John Kline in the Second, John W. Howard III and Erik Paulsen in the Third, Tony Hernandez and Ron Seiford in the Fourth, and Michele Bachmann, Aubrey Immelman and Stephen Thompson in the Sixth — there are plenty of likely Tingelstad supports participating … but everyone is eligible to vote for the Associate Justice candidates.

The choice is up to the voters … do you want Tim Tingelstad and “Word of God” judicial philosophy or Alan Nelson and his “separation of Church and State” philosophy “?

Pass the Word … Vote on August 14th.