Minn.: Court in the time of COVID

Brainerd Dispatch: "When Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan assumed his elected post 26 years ago, he did not foresee a time when nearly all of his office’s court appearances would take place in the virtual realm."

Minnesota might allow law grads to bypass bar exam

Law 360: " The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it may allow recent law school graduates to forgo the bar exam during the COVID-19 health emergency and said it will take public comments on the idea over the next few weeks."

Court upholds move to restore Minnesota lake's Dakota name

Indian Country Today: "A divided Minnesota Supreme Court said Wednesday a state agency has the authority to change the name of a popular lake back to its original Dakota name."

State high court ruling keeps some Minnesota voter data private

MPR News: "The Minnesota Supreme Court has affirmed the position of the Minnesota Voters Alliance that all of the records in the Minnesota statewide voter registration database are publicly available data."

Some Minnesota criminal defense attorneys say state court system 'unfair' during COVID-19 restrictions

KSTP News: "A group of private Minnesota criminal defense attorneys asked the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court to allow them to have the same remote access to computer court files as prosecutors and judges, but the group's request was denied."

Minnesota Supreme Court sides with Winona County on frac-sand ban

Winona Daily News: "The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Winona County did not violate the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution with its ban on frac-sand mining."

Minnesota justices revive defamation claims over cop’s murder

Courthouse News Service: "The Minnesota Supreme Court handed down a tempered victory Wednesday for a man suing two media outlets, ruling that a defamation case against a local newspaper and a statewide television news channel needed closer scrutiny from a jury."

Sentencing guidelines commission votes to impose five-year limit on probation in Minnesota

MinnPost: "The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission has done what the state Legislature was unable to do. On an 8-3 vote Thursday, it placed a limit of five years on the length of probation for people convicted of crimes."

Minn.: 'An incredibly powerful tool,' DNA database, turns 30

MPR News: "Minnesota has played a major role in developing the national system that uses DNA to link crime scenes to other crime scenes or to known convicted offenders."

Some lawmakers support removing slavery reference from Minnesota Constitution

MPR News: "Some Minnesota lawmakers want to amend the state’s constitution to eliminate a little-known clause allowing slavery if someone has been convicted of a crime."

Minn.: New laws start in 2020

KNSI News: "Three new laws take effect on Wednesday when the calendar turns to January 1st, 2020. They include rules for pharmacy 'middlemen', dealing with the opioid crises, and cracking down on the animal trade."

Minnesota Court of Appeals overturns revenge porn law

MPR News: "The Minnesota Court of Appeals has overturned a state law that makes it illegal to disseminate private sexual images of someone without their permission, arguing it’s overbroad and a violation of First Amendment rights."

No delay for Minnesota probation reform hearing

MPR News: "The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission will proceed with a public hearing next week on a proposed five-year probation cap, despite significant concern among members about the plan."

Minnesota Supreme Court dives into lake name controversy

MPR News: "Justices on Minnesota’s Supreme Court and the attorneys appearing before them Wednesday seldom used the words “Lake Calhoun” or “Bde Maka Ska” as the court weighed a case that could decide the name of the largest Minneapolis lake."

Minn.: Late judge Diana Murphy honored with renaming of Minneapolis federal courthouse

MPR News: "Dozens of attorneys and judges are expected to gather in downtown Minneapolis to honor a trailblazer in the Twin Cities legal community. Judge Diana Murphy — who died last year at age 84 — was the first woman appointed to the federal bench in Minnesota and the first to sit on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals."

Minnesota court strikes down coercion law on free speech grounds

Courthouse News Service: "Minnesota prosecutors charged a man under an unconstitutional statute after he threatened to send video of his ex-girlfriend talking about marijuana to her employer, a state appeals court ruled Monday."

Minn.: Governor Walz appoints Jade Rosenfeldt to fill Seventh Judicial District vacancy

Voice of Alexandria: "Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Jade Rosenfeldt as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. This appointment fills a vacancy that occurred upon the creation of a new District Court judgeship effective July 1, 2019 and will be chambered in Moorhead in Clay County."

Minn.: 'Restorative circles' launch in St. Paul for some first-time offenders

MPR News: "At a St. Paul church, Russel Balenger held up a shiny quartz stone and set the ground rules for the conversation to come. Rule No. 1: Only speak when you’re holding the talking piece, he told about 30 people. No. 2: What’s said in the circle stays in the circle."

Parents can be sued for false claims against high school coaches, Minnesota high court rules

Minneapolis Star Tribune: "Parents who criticize or trash talk their kids’ public high school coaches don’t have legal protection to make false claims, according to a groundbreaking ruling issued Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court."

8th Circuit: Christian couple can sue over Minnesota same-sex marriage video law

Reuters: "A federal appeals court on Friday revived a lawsuit by a Minnesota couple challenging a state law requiring that their video production company film same-sex weddings, which they say violates their Christian beliefs."

Minnesota Supreme Court sets limits on body cavity searches

MPR News: "The Minnesota Supreme Court has limited how police can perform body cavity searches after ruling in a case of a suspect in an illegal drug investigation who refused to cooperate with officers."

Minn.: Ramsey County taps retriever to ease courthouse stress

MPR News: "The newest staffer at the Ramsey County Attorney's Office is a highly trained professional. But this staffer doesn't have a law degree — she wears a collar and a leash to work and gets around on four paws."

Minn.: Warrant resolution event helps many find path forward

Farmington Independent: "On Saturday, First District Judge Jerome Abrams sat in a Washington Technology Magnet School classroom in St. Paul. On his left and his right were typical courtroom employees, clerks and a courtroom reporter."