Minnesota judicial news
From Judgepedia
News about or affecting the judiciary in Minnesota.
Minnesota Supreme Court permits man to build house on river
Minnesota: The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against the DNR and is allowing Rob Hubbard to build a 10,000 square foot home on the Mississippi River. The ruling, released on Thursday, February 12, said that the DNR had overstepped its authority in attempting to overrule a permit issued by Lakeland, where he was attempting to build.[1]
Minnesota Supreme Court rules that DWI's are valid even if car is parked
Minnesota: The Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld Daryl Fleck's 2007 DWI conviction that he received while sleeping drunk in a parked car. Justice Alan Page released a statement declaring that Fleck could still be convicted because the circumstances indicated that he had been operating the vehicle. Fleck received a 4 year prison sentence in 2007.[1]
Judge serves notice on Governor
Minnesota: December 30, 2009, district judge Kathleen Gearin of the Second Judicial District in Ramsey County served notice to Governor Tim Pawlenty that his use of the gubernatorial power known as "unallotment" to balance the budget in 2009 may have been unconstitutional. The governor faulted Gearin for "inserting herself in a political dispute". [1] She also granted a temporary restraining order to reinstate $5.3 million in funds for a nutrition program for elderly and disabled people. [2]
WATCH asks Minnesota judge to resign
Minnesota: WATCH, an organization in Minnesota that monitors courts, has asked Stephen C. Aldrich to resign from his seat as a district court judge because of several remarks he made from the bench.[1]
The court-watching organization said that on October 21, at a hearing to consider a request by a woman that the court issue a restraining order against her husband, Judge Alrich said, "I've been married 45 years. We've never considered divorce; a few times murder maybe."
Aldrich has apologized for the remarks, and said, "I tried to use humor to lower the tension in the courtroom and in retrospect I chose the wrong words. Throughout my 15 years on the bench, and for 25 years before, I have acted forcefully to protect victims of abuse and their children, and to issue or seek Orders For Protection justified by the facts and law."[1]
Finalists chosen for 4 trial bench vacancies in Minnesota
Minnesota: Out of the 39 applications received for a vacant seat on the Chisago County bench, and 49 applications for the three open seats on the Anoka County bench of the Tenth Judicial District, the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection made several recommendations to Governor Pawlenty. The Governor has narrowed those recommendations to eight finalists for the four seats.
For the Chisago County seat the finalists are: Suzanne Bollman, John E. Hennen and Todd Schoffelman. For the Anoka County seat the finalists are Bollman, Robert D. Goodell, Hennen, Bethany A. Fountain Lindberg, Stephen R. Nicol, Daniel A. O’Fallon, Schoffelman and Dyanna L. Street. [1]
Vacancies announced in the Tenth Judicial District
Minnesota: The Tenth Judicial District of Minnesota has several vacancies to fill in 2009. The Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to fill the positions.
"The vacancies are due to the retirement of the Honorable Kenneth L. Jorgensen on Jan. 6, 2009, the retirement of the Honorable David E. Doyscher on Jan. 31, 2009, the death of the Honorable Douglas G. Swenson on Feb. 1, 2009, and the... retirement of the Honorable Stephen J. Askew on July 31, 2009." [1]
To be considered for the position, an applicant must be a resident of the Tenth Judicial District and a licensed Minnesota attorney. The Tenth Judicial District is made up of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties. [2]
Hearing set in Minn. lawyer's judicial election lawsuit
(6/13/08) A Golden Valley lawyer asks a federal court next week to block Minnesota's rules for judicial candidates. Gregory Wersal contends the rules violate free speech rights. Wersal is challenging a ban on judicial candidates endorsing candidates for other offices. He's also challenging a ban on judicial candidates soliciting campaign contributions, except under certain conditions. A hearing on Wersal's request for a preliminary injunction is set for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
Retirement sets up rare contested judicial race
(6/6/08) Opening a rare opportunity for a would-be jurist, Ramsey County District Judge John T. Finley has said he will retire at the end of his term in January 2009. His retirement means that eligible attorneys may file for the open seat and run for election in November. Finley's alternative would have been to resign — leaving Gov. Tim Pawlenty to appoint a successor who would run for election two years later.
References
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The Minnesota Project on Judgepedia
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