Minnesota Case Commentaries

Standing to Mount a Constitutional Challenge Requires a Disadvantaged Legal Interest: Expungement-Statute Challenge Dismissed and Court of Appeals Opinion Vacated

Date: Jun 18, 2026

Standing to Mount a Constitutional Challenge Requires a Disadvantaged Legal Interest: Expungement-Statute Challenge Dismissed and Court of Appeals Opinion Vacated 1. Introduction In Sela Investments,...

State v. Steichen: Norgaard Pleas Require an Alford-Level “Strong Factual Basis” Including the State’s Trial Evidence

Date: Jun 18, 2026

State v. Steichen: Norgaard Pleas Require an Alford-Level “Strong Factual Basis” Including the State’s Trial Evidence Case: State of Minnesota v. Paul James Steichen (Minn. June 17, 2026) Court:...

PASCP Inc. v. Commissioner of Revenue: Indirect Audit Underreporting Triggers 6½-Year Assessment Period and Failure to Keep Records Supports Negligence Penalty

Date: Jun 4, 2026

PASCP Inc. v. Commissioner of Revenue: Indirect Audit Underreporting Triggers 6½-Year Assessment Period and Failure to Keep Records Supports Negligence Penalty 1. Introduction In PASCP Inc., Relator,...

Emergency Responses Are Presumptively “Nonroutine” Under Minn. Stat. § 299A.41 and Kramer/Johnson Remain an Alternative Path to Line-of-Duty Benefits

Date: Jun 4, 2026

Emergency Responses Are Presumptively “Nonroutine” Under Minn. Stat. § 299A.41 and Kramer/Johnson Remain an Alternative Path to Line-of-Duty Benefits Case: In the Matter of a Public Safety Officer...

Invited Error Bars Relief When Defendant Blocks Proof of a Prior-Convictions Element

Date: May 29, 2026

Invited Error Bars Relief When Defendant Blocks Proof of a Prior-Convictions Element Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Patrick Jay Sullivan (Minn. May 27, 2026), the Minnesota Supreme Court...

Confrontation Clause Waiver in Minnesota: No Plain Error When Counsel Agrees to Admit Prior Testimony Without Defendant’s Personal Waiver

Date: May 21, 2026

Confrontation Clause Waiver in Minnesota: No Plain Error When Counsel Agrees to Admit Prior Testimony Without Defendant’s Personal Waiver 1. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Steven Douglas...

Green v. State: Abuse-of-Discretion Review and No Pro-Petitioner Presumption After Evidentiary Hearing Under Minnesota’s 2023 Felony-Murder Vacatur Act

Date: May 19, 2026

Green v. State: Abuse-of-Discretion Review and No Pro-Petitioner Presumption After Evidentiary Hearing Under Minnesota’s 2023 Felony-Murder Vacatur Act Case: James Michael Green v. State of Minnesota...

Heightened Voluntariness Colloquy Required for Contingent Pleas; Failure Requires Plea Withdrawal (Minn. 2026)

Date: May 7, 2026

Heightened Voluntariness Colloquy Required for Contingent Pleas; Failure Requires Plea Withdrawal (Minn. 2026) 1. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Alfredo Torrez (Minn. May 6, 2026), the...

Vicarious Owner Liability Under Minn. Stat. § 169.09 Survives Coemployee Immunity: Workers’ Compensation Immunity Is Personal, Not a Release

Date: May 7, 2026

Vicarious Owner Liability Under Minn. Stat. § 169.09 Survives Coemployee Immunity: Workers’ Compensation Immunity Is Personal, Not a Release 1. Introduction In Rebecca A. Niebuhr v. Jacob Sieberg,...

Domestic-Violence Commonalities Expert Testimony Is Admissible to Explain Counterintuitive Victim Conduct

Date: May 4, 2026

Domestic-Violence Commonalities Expert Testimony Is Admissible to Explain Counterintuitive Victim Conduct Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Adam Taylor Fravel, the Minnesota Supreme Court...

Misappropriation Plus Patterned Client Neglect Warrants Disbarment Despite Limited Restitution

Date: May 3, 2026

Misappropriation Plus Patterned Client Neglect Warrants Disbarment Despite Limited Restitution Introduction In In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against Bradley J. Haddy, the Minnesota Supreme...

Hybrid Return-to-Office Equipment Transport as a Compensable “Special Errand” Based on an Implied Employer Directive

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Hybrid Return-to-Office Equipment Transport as a Compensable “Special Errand” Based on an Implied Employer Directive Case: Cindy Ludwig v. Dakota County, Self-Insured by SFM Risk Solutions, Relator...

Minnesota Requires Warrants for Google Location Data and Bars Geofence Warrants that Delegate Step-Two Expansion Decisions to Police

Date: Apr 21, 2026

Minnesota Requires Warrants for Google Location Data and Bars Geofence Warrants that Delegate Step-Two Expansion Decisions to Police Introduction Case: State of Minnesota v. Ivan Contreras-Sanchez...

Berry and Summary Denial: No Evidentiary Hearing When Ineffective-Appellate-Counsel Claims Fail as a Matter of Law

Date: Apr 9, 2026

Berry and Summary Denial: No Evidentiary Hearing When Ineffective-Appellate-Counsel Claims Fail as a Matter of Law Case: Cedric Lamont Berry v. State of Minnesota Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota...

Judicial Impartiality in Minnesota: Legal Research and On-the-Record Clarification Are Not “Independent Investigation” or Advocacy

Date: Apr 4, 2026

Judicial Impartiality in Minnesota: Legal Research and On-the-Record Clarification Are Not “Independent Investigation” or Advocacy 1. Introduction In Andrew Vernard Glover v. State of Minnesota...

Reinstatement Requires Proven Moral Change; Separate Disciplinary Disputes Should Not Drive the Moral-Change Inquiry

Date: Apr 4, 2026

Reinstatement Requires Proven Moral Change; Separate Disciplinary Disputes Should Not Drive the Moral-Change Inquiry 1. Introduction In In re Petition for Reinstatement of Registration No. 0191139...

State v. Tillman: “Searching Inquiry” for Substitute Counsel May Be Satisfied by Targeted Questioning Plus the Court’s Record Knowledge

Date: Apr 4, 2026

State v. Tillman: “Searching Inquiry” for Substitute Counsel May Be Satisfied by Targeted Questioning Plus the Court’s Record Knowledge I. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Shawn Michael Tillman...

Indefinite Suspension for Retaliatory Frivolous Litigation Under MRPC 3.1 and 8.4(d), While Declining to Reach Rule 4.4(a) for Pro Se Lawyers

Date: Apr 4, 2026

Indefinite Suspension for Retaliatory Frivolous Litigation Under MRPC 3.1 and 8.4(d), While Declining to Reach Rule 4.4(a) for Pro Se Lawyers 1. Introduction In In re Petition for Disciplinary Action...

Reinstatement Requires Clear and Convincing Proof of Moral Change; Contesting Separate Discipline Should Not Be Counted Against “Renewed Commitment”

Date: Apr 2, 2026

Reinstatement Requires Clear and Convincing Proof of Moral Change; Contesting Separate Discipline Should Not Be Counted Against “Renewed Commitment” 1. Introduction In In re Petition for...

Trial-Record Contradictions and Appellate Concessions Defeat “Reasonable Probability” Under Minnesota’s 2023 Aid-and-Abet Felony Murder Relief Act

Date: Mar 28, 2026

Trial-Record Contradictions and Appellate Concessions Defeat “Reasonable Probability” Under Minnesota’s 2023 Aid-and-Abet Felony Murder Relief Act Introduction State of Minnesota v. Scot Perry...