The meeting was called to order Chair Sandstrom at 8:15 a.m., June 15, 2000. The following members of Judicial Conference were present:
Gerald W. VandeWalle
William A. Neumann
Dale V. Sandstrom
Mary Muehlen Maring
Carol Ronning Kapsner
The education program took up the remainder of the morning:
8:30 a.m. Allan D. Sobel, Executive Director, American Judicature Society, spoke on the following topics: "American Judicature Society; Judicial Salaries; and Judicial Independence".
9:00 a.m. The Honorable Kevin Burke, Drug Court Judge and Presiding Judge, Hennepin County, Minnesota, spoke on the topic of "A Drug Court Judge's Perspective".
9:45 a.m. Amy Vorachek and Charles R. Placek, both from the Parole and Probation Office, spoke on "Crime Victim Issues".
10:15 a.m. The Honorable Lee A. Christofferson, Presiding Judge, Northeast Judicial District, spoke on the topic of "Grand Jury Lessons Learned".
11:00 a.m. Jean R. Mullen, an Assistant Attorney General from the Attorney General's Office, spoke on the topic of "Civil Confinement of Sexual Predators".
At 11:30 a.m., the group adjourned to attend the Law School Luncheon. At 1:30 p.m., the Conference reconvened for the Business Meeting.
The Honorable Ralph R. Erickson presented a Power Point Presentation on the Juvenile Drug Court program.
The Honorable Robert W. Holte, Chair of Judiciary Standards Committee, provided a brief presentation. He also explained that the Committee will recommend that juror pay be raised to $7.00 per hour.
The Honorable William A. Neumann, Chair of the Trust and Confidence Committee, presented a report to the group on Committee activities.
The Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring gave a presentation as Chair of the Gender Fairness Committee. She explained that the Supreme Court was reviewing an informal complaint system on gender fairness issues. The purpose is to provide people a place to go without having to go the formal route. Complaints on judges, employees and lawyers would be received. The complaints would be in informal form and held confidential. Investigations would also be confidential.
Judge Erickson suggested that a committee be appointed for judicial review. There was no follow up discussion or action on this suggestion. A report on the Ethics Advisory Committee was presented by Keithe Nelson, former staff to the Committee.
Chair Sandstrom mentioned additional items being considered for addition to the court website and welcomed the thoughts members of the conference.
Chair Sandstrom announced that items for the good of the order would be received. None were presented.
The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
The Judicial Conference went as a group to the SBAND General Assembly. Judge Erickson provided a Power Point Presentation on judicial pay. Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle presented the State of the Judiciary Address.
The traditional formal SBAND banquet was held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night.
On Friday, June 16, 2000, the Judicial Conference members joined SBAND for a 9:00 a.m. presentation on Evidence and Opinion Testimony.