The justice system in Minnesota and throughout the United States of America seems to be discriminatory, especially along racial lines. Studies regarding the representation of state judges indicate that there is a disparity between the judges and the communities they...
We speak English and Spanish
Se Habla Espanol
A Tradition of Service, Focused On Achieving Positive Results
Criminal Defense
Making false statements to federal officials is a serious crime
Minnesota residents who are questioned by federal officials would be wise to consult with an attorney before answering any questions and make sure that anything they do say is truthful. This is because making false statements to representatives of the federal...
Two teenagers charged with manslaughter in teen death
Two Minnesota teenagers have been charged with second-degree manslaughter after a 17-year-old male was killed with a gun in November 2019. The young men charged in the death were 15 and 16 years old. The three teenagers went to the 17-year-old's home to play video...
What constitutes a legal or illegal arrest?
Many people ask if they have the right to walk away from a police officer. Unless the police officer formally stops the individual during a traffic stop or makes an arrest, the officer cannot stop the individual from merely walking away. When the officer prevents the...
Community service sentences promote inequity, study says
Many people in Minnesota see community service sentences as a humane alternative to hefty fines or jail time, especially for people living in poverty and convicted of relatively minor matters. However, one study contests the idea that these sentences improve people's...
Minnesota Supreme Court changes vehicle forfeiture rules
Here in Minnesota, police can seize a vehicle on the spot under certain circumstances. For instance, if police stop you for your third DUI offense within the last 10 years, they can take possession of your vehicle before even leaving the scene. Police can keep your...
Why felons may be treated unfairly
A Minnesota resident who is convicted of a felony could lose the right to vote. It may also be possible to lose the right to own a gun after being convicted of a felony. Some say that the best way to avoid this fate is to not commit a crime. However, there are many...
Facial recognition technology for shoplifters raises concerns
Many retailers in Minnesota and around the country are using facial recognition software to identify and ban people who have shoplifted from their stores in the past. However, privacy rights advocates fear the technology could be easily misused. The use of facial...
Age and the likelihood of arrest
People in Minnesota and the rest of the United States who are younger than 26 years of age have a higher chance of being arrested than people who belong to older generations. This is according to a study that was done by researchers from a nonprofit research...
Misdemeanor cases clog courts and burden poor defendants
Misdemeanor charges in Minnesota may not impose harsh penalties like felonies, but they still carry serious consequences for many people, such as imprisonment for up to one year and fines. A legal scholar and author who has researched the effects of misdemeanor...