Capitol Retort: Forfeitures, renewed Destiny, butt-dial lawsuit

Kevin Featherly April 19, 2018 Leave a comment

Weekly musings on government news by people in the know.

In the Hopper: Indigenous women; guardians ad litem

Kevin Featherly April 18, 2018 Leave a comment

Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, DFL-New Brighton (facing camera), embraces St. Paul resident Mysti Babineau after Babineau gave wrenchingly personal testimony before the House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee on April 11. Kunesh-Podein has authored a bill to launch a task force to study the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women in Minnesota. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein, DFL-New Brighton, is optimistic that her Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women task force will come to pass.

Breaking the Ice: Judgeship continues focus on criminal law, public service

Todd Nelson April 16, 2018 Leave a comment

Judge Lisa Janzen, shown in her office at the Hennepin County Government Center, previously was an assistant public defender in the 7th and 1st districts and managing attorney in the 1st District Public Defender’s Office. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)

Fourth Judicial District Judge Lisa Janzen likes dogs, traveling, kayaking and Louise Erdrich. She dislikes gossip.

Tagged with: Breaking the Ice

Capitol Retort: Pawlenty; catching omnibus; harassment haggle

Kevin Featherly April 12, 2018 Leave a comment

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty spoke at a Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association event in February. He is seeking the Republican nomination to get his old job back. (Staff photo: Matt Johnson)

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

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In the Hopper: Ignition interlock; consent defense nullified

Kevin Featherly April 11, 2018 Leave a comment

Rep. Marion O’Neill wants to require DWI offenders to use ignition interlock after their second offense in 10 years, or their third in a lifetime. The bill, House File 3725, was laid over Tuesday for possible inclusion in a public safety omnibus bill to be considered later in session. (Staff photo: Kevin Featherly)

A bill that would force more DWI offenders to use ignition interlock devices so their cars will start would also require creation of a new “judge unit.”

Capitol Retort: 2nd Amendment; favorite bills; reefer religion

Kevin Featherly April 5, 2018 Leave a comment

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has written an op-ed urging the firearms safety movement to think big—and work to repeal the Second Amendment. (AP file photo)

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

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Breaking the Ice: From park to statehouse to congressional bid

Todd Nelson April 5, 2018 Leave a comment

Sen. Carla Nelson got her political start door-knocking and sending fliers to ensure that a neighborhood park planned in Rochester came to fruition.

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In the Hopper: Catching up on where bills stand at Capitol

Kevin Featherly April 4, 2018 Leave a comment

House and Senate bills increasing penalties for obstructing highway, airport or transit traffic await final floor votes. In this photo, demonstrators block a portion of Interstate 94 on Nov. 16, 2015, in Minneapolis after a police shooting. (AP photo: Star Tribune)

A status-check digest on many of the bills we’ve covered so far this session

Breaking the Ice: Advocate seeks advancement for attorneys of color

Todd Nelson March 30, 2018 2 Comments

Summra Mohammadee Shariff stands for a photo next to a mural on the side of the Treehouse Records store in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)

Summra Mohammadee Shariff, the new president of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, loves doughnuts and hates pot holes.

Tagged with: Breaking the Ice

Capitol Retort: Disarming cops, cameras in court, civil forfeitures

Kevin Featherly March 29, 2018 Leave a comment

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

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Minnesota Lawyer

Features

Capitol Retort: Forfeitures, renewed Destiny, butt-dial lawsuit

In the Hopper: Indigenous women; guardians ad litem

Breaking the Ice: Judgeship continues focus on criminal law, public service

Capitol Retort: Pawlenty; catching omnibus; harassment haggle

In the Hopper: Ignition interlock; consent defense nullified

Capitol Retort: 2nd Amendment; favorite bills; reefer religion

Breaking the Ice: From park to statehouse to congressional bid

In the Hopper: Catching up on where bills stand at Capitol

Breaking the Ice: Advocate seeks advancement for attorneys of color

Capitol Retort: Disarming cops, cameras in court, civil forfeitures