MinnLawyer Blog

I was a bit amused and then intrigued by some comments made by former Attorney General Mike Hatch posted yesterday on MinnPost. The Hatch comments were in response to a request for an interview from MinnPost’s Eric Black, who was writing a piece on Hatch’s role in the current managerial situation at the AG’s Office. [...]

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If this blog had a “Profiles in Courage” award, I would without hesitation bestow it upon Rep. Steve Simon, DFL- St. Louis Park.
Simon’s name has unfairly been dragged through the mud as of late as a direct result of his having the temerity to break ranks with his party and be the lone DFLer on [...]

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I just attended an interesting CLE program sponsored by the Hennepin County Bar Association entitled: “What to do when the Attorney General comes calling” (or “comes a’ knockin,” as I like to say.)
The panelist were two ex-AGs — Mike Hatch (left) and Warren Spannaus. The lunchtime panel was fairly well attended; many of those there [...]

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It’s confirmed: Mike Hatch is now with the Minneapolis law firm of Blackwell Burke. Minnesota Lawyer Associate Editor Barbara Jones called over there today and left a message for Hatch on his voicemail at the firm.
It will be interesting to see whether the former AG with a penchant for consumer-rights advocacy work maintains that focus [...]

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The simmering drama at the state attorney general’s office reached a climax of sorts yesterday with the abrupt <a href=”http://www.twincities.com/searchresults/ci_5792862resignation of former attorney general Mike Hatch, but by no means did the saga reach its conclusion. In fact, Hatch’s departure probably raised more questions than it answered:
– Where will Hatch land? Given his reputation as [...]

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It would have been a much more dignified end for Mike Hatch’s career as Attorney General if he had turned in his office keys four months ago like he was supposed to. And the man is in many ways a walking HR problem with anger-management issues, there is no denying that. However, properly channeled, some [...]

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Former Attorney General Mike Hatch today resigned his post as director of complex litigation at the Attorney General’s Office.In a letter to AG Lori Swanson, Hatch said: “Because of my presence in your administration, it is apparent that changes I made during my administration are unfairly attributed to you. It is not appropriate you should [...]

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The Pioneer Press’s Rubén Rosario, who has been closely following the events at the Attorney General’s Office, wrote a piece calling for Mike Hatch’s removal. While commending Hatch for his service to the state, he said it’s time for the ex-AG to move on.
Formatting the piece as a letter to Lori Swanson, Rosario says: “Your [...]

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Something clicked when I saw Attorney General Lori Swanson’s comment in the press that the departures and the way they were being handled was just a normal transition. And then I realized what it was: Swanson has only been part of one other transition of power at the AG’s Office before — when Hatch took [...]

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From the archives of Minnesota Lawyer, June 28, 1999, six months into Mike Hatch’s first term as attorney general of Minnesota.
AG’s handling of staff reductions questionedSome decry ‘climate of fear,’ but AG’s spokesperson says transition pains are normalBy Brian Becker / Minnesota LawyerJune 28, 1999While some personnel changes were expected when Mike Hatch was elected [...]

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