Latest news from Session/Law
Supreme Court upholds Board of Pardons unanimity rule
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Thursday reversed a finding that state law requiring unanimous state Board of Pardons clemency votes violates Article V, Sec. 7 of the Minnesota Constitution. The court’s order means that the requirement for unanimous, 3-0 votes will remain in place for petitioners seeking clemency before the board, which includes the governor, attorney general and chief justice.
Conjunction: What’s your function?
The governor not only lacks the unilateral authority to grant clemency that his predecessors enjoyed more than a century ago. His thumbs up on the Board of Pardons, constitutionally speaking, is unnecessary. Or so a lawyer asserted during arguments before the Supreme Court Wednesday..
Cop’s murder conviction reversed
Minnesota’s first police-shooting murder conviction went away on Wednesday when the Supreme Court reversed it. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohammed Noor was convicted of the depraved-mind murder of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. In June 2019, he was sentenced to 12½ years in prison.
Court stays police deadly force statute
A controversial law enacted in 2020 governing the use of deadly force by peace officers may be unconstitutional, Ramsey County District Court Chief Judge Leonardo Castro has ruled. Castro ordered a temporary injunction against the enforcement of the amended Minn. Stat. § 609.066, which took effect on March 1.
Inmate allowed to expand complaint
A Minnesota prison inmate who says he was beaten by corrections officers for 45 minutes while strapped to a chair can expand his complaint to include more defendants.
For liquids, any THC supports conviction
Possessing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in liquid form is enough to secure a drug conviction, an appellate court has ruled. Prosecutors need not determine how much THC is present to meet its burden of proof—merely that it is present at all.
City ordinance fails 1st Amendment challenge
A city ordinance that prohibited use of cameras in a public park next to an Islamic community center violates the First Amendment, as it applies to a woman who documented the center’s allegedly wrongful use of the park and nearby parking spaces.
Gazelka climbs aboard in governor’s race
Sen. Paul Gazelka made official what virtually no one failed to anticipate Wednesday, by entering the race for Minnesota governor. “I know what makes Minnesota great,” he told a gathering of journalists and supporters inside the Minnesota Capitol. “It’s our people.”
Lazzaro hit with federal lawsuit
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday labels Anton Lazzaro a predator who used his status as a political high flyer to sexually exploit an underage girl. The lawsuit was filed in Minnesota U.S. District Court. It names a minor child and her parents as plaintiffs. The plaintiff family is identified only as Father, Mother and Minor Doe.
Sen. Kent steps down as minority leader
The three-term incumbent also says she won’t run again for re-election
Trustees stay at Bremer Trust—for now
State alleged ‘imprudent,’ ‘self-interested’ and ‘unlawful behavior’
Gazelka steps down as Senate leader
Decision comes as Republican leader weighs expected run for governor
Judge’s fact-finding leads to new trial
Benshoof’s impartiality reasonably called into question, Supreme Court finds
We’re Taking a Week Away
Session/Law takes a working break to move onto its next phase
Carnahan’s out, with 3 months’ pay
GOP chair casts deciding vote for her own severance package, resigns
8th Circuit OKs ketamine injection
Court: Wasn’t ‘objectively unreasonable’ for EMTs to administer drug
Post-conviction claim too late, high court says
Birchfield, Trahan and Thompson precedents control in implied-consent cases
Sentence upheld for accomplice in killing
Court of Appeals says 4 years appropriate for woman who helped husband hide gun, car
Guilty plea stands in surreptitious video case
But Court of Appeals splits on what dissent sees as overly broad reading of ‘aperture’
Claim for ‘on-call’ wages heads to trial
Property caretaker who got rent credit in lieu of pay contends she lacked use of own time
