Minnesota Lawyer
Civil
Election Law
Absentee Ballot Boards
In July 2020, appellants filed petitions for writs of mandamus, alleging that respondents Ramsey County and Olmsted County, among other entities, violated their statutory obligations for appointing members to absentee ballot boards during the 2020 general election. At its heart, appellants argued that the statutory requirements for election judges—that they be “appointed as provided in sections 204B.19 to 204B.22”—also apply to deputy county auditors.
The Supreme Court held that (1) deputy county auditors serving on absentee ballot boards are not bound by the statutory restrictions governing the appointment of election judges; and (2) Minn. Stat. § 203B.121 does not clearly establish a limited category of “bona fide” deputy county auditors. Affirmed.
A20-1294, A20-1295, A20-1296 Minn. Voters Alliance v. County of Ramsey (Court of Appeals)
Orders
Attorney Discipline
Public Reprimand
Amy J. Goetz was publicly reprimanded.
Attorney Discipline
Reinstatement
Dennis James Smith was conditionally reinstated to the practice of law and placed on probation for 2 years.
Attorney Discipline
Suspension
John Michael Huberty was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law until such time as he was successfully discharged from criminal probation.
Attorney Discipline
Suspension
Samuel A. McCloud’s conditional reinstatement was revoked, and he was indefinitely suspended.
