MinnLawyer Blog

As we enter the holiday season, we undoubtedly are about to start seeing various lists of things for which we should be thankful. At the top of everybody’s list ought to be the fact that they are not a turkey. While one is traditionally pardoned by the president at Thanksgiving time, thousands of others find themselves on the avian version of death row for the holidays. It’s hard to be grateful when your head is about to go on the chopping block.

Which brings me to the more serious purpose of this post. As we enter into this season of thanks, perhaps the thing the courts should be grateful for is that it is still 2008. I don’t think the immediate future has ever looked so bleak for the state’s justice system. Things looked bad when they were projecting a $2 billion deficit — but those dire predictions are fast becoming the good old days as the shortfall projections stretch to the $4 billion area. One can only imagine how the inevitable cuts that the justice system will be asked to shoulder will impact it when it has already been sawing through bone for a year or more. Layoffs, closed facilities and shortened court hours — all of these things will be on the table in 2009.

So this year, at the top of the things to be grateful for in the legal community, let’s place the fact that our state has an excellent, strong and independent judiciary. It is my hope that we will be able to say that with as much confidence when the holiday season rolls around again next year.