Minnesota Supreme Court denies Minneapolis' appeal on ruling requiring it to hire more police officers

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday denied Minneapolis' request to hear an emergency appeal on a court ruling that required the city to hire more police officers.

In a one-page order, Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said the court was denying the city's request for "accelerated review," a move that would have allowed the case to take the unusual step of bypassing the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The order did not elaborate on the court's rationale. Minneapolis officials had argued that a Hennepin County judge overstepped her bounds in ordering the city to hire at least 730 officers, and residents deserved clarity on the court case before they head to the polls in November to decide the future of the city's Police Department.

Lawyers for the group of North Side residents and activists who brought the case opposed the request. They argued that the judge's order was appropriate and it would have no impact on the "clear-cut" proposal that will appear before voters this fall.

The court's denial doesn't necessarily signal an end to the court battle. The city could still challenge the order in Minnesota's Court of Appeals if officials decide to take that route.

City spokesman Casper Hill said Tuesday night that the city is disappointed and "reviewing how best to proceed as we continue to pursue the appeal in the Court of Appeals." Minneapolis' minimum police staffing requirements have become a key issue in debates about how to transform public safety and in the November elections, when the future of the Police Department, the mayor's office and all 13 City Council seats will be on the ballot for the first time since George Floyd's murder by an officer.

The city's charter, which serves as its constitution, requires Minneapolis to fund a police force with a minimum size based on population. One question placed before voters this November will ask residents whether they want to keep that requirement or eliminate it, a move that could allow city officials to dramatically reduce the size of the force.

The Minneapolis City Attorney's Office had asked the state's high court to hear the case. Attorneys for the North Side residents and activists who brought the lawsuit opposed the request.

In early July, Hennepin County Judge Jamie Anderson issued an order largely siding with the residents. Saying the city has a responsibility to keep up with new population figures, Anderson gave the city until June 30, 2022, to fund a police force with at least 730 officers — or a higher number if new census numbers are released and warrant it.

She arrived at that number using 2019 population estimates, a number she used because attorneys for both the city and residents had previously agreed they were accurate.

Staff writer Maya Miller contributed to this report.