Minnesota Lawyer

Our review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of political people in the know.

With a revised economic forecast in hand and all three primary budget-setters having sounded off, the financial picture at the Capitol is coming into focus.

In Gov. Walz's revamped budget plan, he introduced a few new ideas for spending in the areas of public safety and the judiciary. Here are a few more selected highlights that might be of interest to attorneys.

The election of Wendy S. Tien as chief judge of the Minnesota Tax Court has made history, according to the governor’s office.

The city of St. Paul is not on the hook for Officer Eric Reetz’s legal fees. That’s Wednesday’s unanimous ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Attorney Erick Kaardal is appealing a Washington, D.C., federal judge’s order referring him for sanctions.

In the latest tweak to the state judiciary’s COVID-19 response, the Judicial Council agreed Friday to keep in place its orders permitting in-person criminal jury trials.

The state’s Civil Legal Services are faced with a “compensation deficit crisis” that is churning lawyer turnover, even as the pandemic significantly increases the need for their services.

Possession or sale of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl would be criminally classed in Minnesota, by weight, with heroin for the first time if Senate File 1279 becomes law.

Rejecting their constitutional claims, a federal judge has thrown out a drug manufacturers’ lawsuit seeking to overturn a Minnesota law, which provides free insulin to those who can’t afford it.