Supreme Court Digest: June 12

CRIMINAL OPINIONS

Postconviction Relief – DNA Testing

Appellant was convicted of murder. Appellant was sentenced to life in prison. Appellant filed what he captioned as a “Motion for DNA Analysis” pursuant to Minn. Stat. sec. 590.01, subd. 1a (2012). Appellant requested DNA testing of the victim’s underwear to prove he did not sexually assault the victim and that victim was in sexual relationships with other individuals. Construing appellant’s motion as his fifth petition for postconviction relief, the postconviction court found the petition was barred. The Supreme Court held that (1) appellant’s motion filed pursuant to Minn. Stat. sec. 590.01, subd. 1a, was properly denied by the postconviction court because the motion failed to establish that the evidence to be tested was subject to a chain of custody and was materially relevant to appellant’s actual innocence; and (2) if appellant’s motion was properly treated as a petition, his claim was time-barred pursuant to Minn. Stat. sec. 590.01, subd. 4(c), because appellant knew or should have known of the claim more than two years before the petition was filed. Affirmed.

A12-0868 Wayne v. State (Waseca County)

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ORDERS

General Rules of Practice – Amendments

The Supreme Court promulgated amendments to the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts regarding the authorization of mandatory e-filing and e-service.

ADM09-8009 Order Promulgating Amends. to Gen. R. Prac. for Dist. Ct. Regarding Mandatory E-Filing

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Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals – Affirmed Without Opinion

The decision of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals filed and served on October 17, 2012 was affirmed without opinion.

A12-2036 Cummings v. Kelly Servs. & Indem. Co.

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