Minnesota’s Republican governor Tim Pawlenty has appointed Eric Magnuson as chief justice of the state supreme court. Pawlenty appointees will now have a majority on the court. Magnuson is well respected among conservatives in the state; a dozen years ago, he filed an amicus brief arguing that the state courts should not force the state to pay for abortions. I wonder if the appointment is part of Pawlenty’s bid to be vice president. It should help him.