Courts

October 24, 2003 11:23 AM

Attorneys remember man who changed legal landscape for the poor

The phrase is commonplace during arrests -- "You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you free of charge." But that wasn't always the case in the American legal system. Before a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1963, states weren't required to fund public defenders. So many poor people accused of crimes were forced to defend themselves in court. Members of the Minnesota Bar held a celebration Thursday recognizing the Gideon Ruling at a time when state public defenders have asked for relief from soaring caseloads.

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October 24, 2003 9:43 AM

Former employee details lawsuit against Dayton

The man suing U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton for firing him spoke publicly this week for the first time about his lawsuit. Brad Hanson ran Dayton's Health Care Help Line. He says he was fired in July 2002, after telling Dayton he needed heart surgery. Dayton won't discuss Hanson's firing, but his chief of staff says Hanson was fired because he didn't do his job.

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October 23, 2003 2:08 PM

Bemidji police officials dispute racial profiling study

A recent study shows racial profiling occurs across Minnesota. In Bemidji, the study sparked renewed protests by American Indians. They've complained for years that Indians in the region are unfairly targeted by law enforcement. Now, some are demanding action. But law enforcement officials in Bemidji deny racial profiling exists. They say the study is flawed.

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October 22, 2003 5:14 PM

Judge speaks out against Congress, Ashcroft

The man who recently led Congress to monitor federal judges' sentencing practices says he's disappointed with the "rhetoric" of Minnesota U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson. Magnuson Tuesday sharply criticized policies instituted by Congress and the U.S. attorney general as intimidation against judges over leniency in sentencing. The author of the policies, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida, says they were merely meant to hold judges accountable, not to threaten the independence of the court.

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October 10, 2003 12:01 AM

Dedicating a memorial

Duluth has a new park. It's a small plaza, on a street corner, right downtown. But this is an unusual place. There probably isn't anything like it anywhere else in the country. It's a memorial to three men who were hanged from a lamppost across the street in the infamous Duluth lynching.

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October 9, 2003 10:20 AM

When youth are accused of adult-sized crimes.

Should teenagers who commit serious crimes be rehabilitated or punished? Separate recent high profile cases have prosecutors seeking adult trials for two Minnesota teens.

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October 7, 2003 4:13 PM

Churches seek to overturn concealed-carry law

More than two dozen religious organizations have asked a Ramsey County judge to overturn the state's new handgun-permitting law. The law requires local law enforcement officials to grant permits to carry weapons in public to anyone who meets certain qualifying criteria. The religious groups argue the law is unconstitutional and was passed by the Legislature inappropriately. Supporters of the new permitting process say the legal challenge is without merit.

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September 30, 2003 11:47 AM

Minnesota lawyers frustrated over shortage of public defenders

Public defense lawyers across Minnesota are throwing up their arms in frustration. Public defenders say they're overburdened with huge caseloads. Budget cuts have forced layoffs within their ranks. And more public defenders are quitting because of stress. Some say the crisis jeopardizes the legal rights of Minnesota's poor. Public defenders are turning to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Legislature for help.

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September 25, 2003 6:14 PM

Supreme Court OK's boat searches

A divided Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled game wardens may inspect fishing boats without probable cause that an angler is violating fishing regulations. However, a dissenting justice said the ruling opens the door for warrantless searches by any police officer on the mere suspicion that the individual is, has, or will hunt or fish.

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September 24, 2003 11:30 AM

Report: Police stop minorities more often than whites

New research concludes that racial profiling is practiced by law enforcement agencies around the state of Minnesota. Wednesday the Council on Crime and Justice and the Institute on Race and Poverty released an analysis of a year's worth of traffic stop data collected from 65 law enforcement jurisdictions. They found that in 2002 people of color were more likely to be stopped and searched by police officers than white drivers.

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