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| Updated: 5/7/08 |
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Next update: 5/14/08
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Minnesota
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Former justice O'Connor urges changes in judicial elections Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said Minnesota should consider adopting Arizona's method for choosing judges. In Minnesota, O'Connor spoke about keeping courts impartial in the light of new judicial campaign rules. MPR Swenson elected chief in Hennepin A much-lauded jurist was elected Monday as chief judge of Hennepin County District Court. Judge James Swenson, who has served the last two years as assistant chief, was elected without opposition. Judge Denise Reilly will succeed him as assistant chief. Swenson has served on the bench since 1995 and is up for election in the fall. Last year he received the Foundation for Improvement of Justice 2007 Paul H. Chapman Award for his work in Family Court by promoting early resolution of cases involving children and families through strategies such as Early Case Management and Early Neutral Evaluation programs. He has also received the Minnesota District Judges Association’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Judiciary and the Anne V. Simonett Award as the 4th Judicial District Employee of the Year for his work in developing alternative dispute resolution techniques. MINNESOTA LAWYER BLOG Three appointed to Judicial Standards Board Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the appointment of Judge Vicki Landwehr and Judge Daniel Mabley, and the reappointment of Patrick Sexton to the Board on Judicial Standards. All three are appointed to four-year terms that expire on January 2, 2012. Governor's news release Council post gives Judge Alexander new platform to push criminal justice equity When Pam Alexander leaves the Hennepin County Court next month to become president of the Council on Crime and Justice, there will be as many black judges on the state's largest court as there were when she was appointed by Gov. Rudy Perpich in 1983. Two. "I mentioned it in my letter to Gov. Pawlenty that I hope he gives that some consideration,'' Alexander said in an interview. "I do think the bench needs to reflect the community it serves ... In fairness, he has appointed Indians and Asians.'' She said Pawlenty also has appointed one African-American judge, Todd Barnette. The bottom line, however, is troubling: Even though the court has grown by almost a third — to 62 judges — and the black population has increased since she became the youngest person ever appointed a Hennepin County judge, the number of black judges will be down by five from its high of seven when she leaves the court June 1. MINNPOST Protesters ask court for help with GOP convention permit Antiwar groups planning to protest during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul have sharpened their argument with city officials. They filed a memorandum in U.S. District Court on Monday aimed at persuading a judge to issue a preliminary injunction later this month to force the city to set a route for a demonstration on Sept. 1, the first day of the convention. "With less than 16 short weeks until the convention begins, the First Amendment cannot be told to wait further on the City of St. Paul," the memo said. A lawsuit filed by the protesters accuses city officials of violating their free speech rights, saying the officials have so far frustrated their efforts to obtain a march route permit from the State Capitol to Xcel Energy Center and back. City officials have defended their handling of the protesters' permit application and have said they will approve a route no later than May 31, although they reserve the right to revise the guidelines and permits if necessary. STAR TRIBUNE Smoking ban drama gets a new actor: District judge Whether a bar owner can stage "theater nights" to get around the statewide smoking ban is now in the hands of a Scott County district judge. The case could provide the first pivotal court decision in a standoff between Minnesota health officials and some bars that are taking advantage of an exemption in the statewide ban that allows actors to smoke during a theatrical production. In a hearing Tuesday, state health officials asked the court to order the Bullseye Saloon in Elko to stop hosting "theater nights," saying it violates the statewide smoking ban. The ban went into effect last October after the Legislature passed it in spring of 2007. But Patrick O'Neill, the attorney representing the bar, argued that the Legislature didn't define what constitutes a theatrical performance. The Bullseye Saloon, he said, is following the letter of the law. In addition, smoking is an integral part of the bar's theater production and expressive conduct is protected by the First Amendment, he said. STAR TRIBUNE Volunteer-credits decision sparks debate at St. Thomas law school A University of St. Thomas law student is protesting the school's decision to deny her academic credit for volunteering with Planned Parenthood. The dispute boils down to one word: abortion. It has raised questions about the Catholic law school's mission and how it intersects with one of the church's core values, placed limits on volunteering that some students want removed or waived, and left some students worried about the public perception of a young law school hoping to attract a diverse student body. It began last week; briefly, here's what happened: MINNPOST
The Minnesota Supreme Court said it won't take up the state's appeal of a decision that exempts churches from the state's conceal and carry handgun law. The action is a victory for churches that challenged the state's 2005 handgun law. That law allows residents with permits to carry concealed handguns. By refusing to hear the state's appeal, the court let stand a ruling that said Minnesota's Constitution allows religious organizations to ban guns from their churches, parking lots, day-care centers and other buildings. It also exempts churches from following state law that specifies how facilities should post signs prohibiting guns. The state had argued that the law did not burden churches so much that it ran afoul of the separation of church and state. The lower court ruling disagreed. MPR
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