AG Ellison reacts to Minnesota Supreme Court rulings on MPD, pardons board

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison supports the ballot measure in Minneapolis that could transform policing in the city he once represented in the legislature. So, he was happy to see the Minnesota Supreme Court pave the way for it to remain on the ballot this fall.

The ballot measure, if approved, would replace the existing Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety that wouldn’t require a minimum number of police officers but would require more mental health responses to public safety calls.

"I have hope we can embrace a future in which we have law enforcement coupled with both traditional policing and public health strategies together that can give us an overall better product," Ellison said in an interview recorded for broadcast on "At Issue" this Sunday at 10 a.m.

Ellison also said he’s OK with a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that upholds the constitutionality of a law that requires the Minnesota Board of Pardons — on which Ellison serves as attorney general — to have a unanimous vote to grant someone a pardon.

"My office did say the statute requiring unanimity was constitutional," Ellison said. "But my policy prescription would be, let’s go two out of three. I can’t say the law’s unconstitutional. I can say it’s not the wisest choice."

You can see the entire interview with Ellison on "At Issue" Sunday at 10 a.m.