Minnesota Case Commentaries

Exclusivity of Summary-Denial Grounds and Hearing-First Credibility in Minnesota’s Aid/Abet Felony-Murder Relief Act

Date: Mar 28, 2026

Exclusivity of Summary-Denial Grounds and Hearing-First Credibility in Minnesota’s Aid/Abet Felony-Murder Relief Act Introduction State of Minnesota v. Melissa Madelyne Zielinski (Minn. Mar. 25,...

Waiver by Retention: A Foreclosure Certificate Holder Accepts Redemption Money by Receiving It and Not Returning It as Soon as Administratively Possible

Date: Mar 20, 2026

Waiver by Retention: A Foreclosure Certificate Holder Accepts Redemption Money by Receiving It and Not Returning It as Soon as Administratively Possible Introduction In Petition of Minnesota Housing...

Paramedic Communications Are Privileged Only If the Paramedic Acts Under a Treating Physician’s Direction; Nonprivileged Medical-Record Content Remains Nonprivileged; Privilege Does Not Bar Particularized Warrants for Accident-Day Records

Date: Mar 20, 2026

Paramedic Communications Are Privileged Only If the Paramedic Acts Under a Treating Physician’s Direction; Nonprivileged Medical-Record Content Remains Nonprivileged; Privilege Does Not Bar...

Turner: Appellate Review of Counsel-Waiver Validity is De Novo (with Clear-Error Review of Underlying Facts) and Renewal After Charge Increase Requires Only a Focused Inquiry into the Changed Circumstances

Date: Mar 20, 2026

Turner: Appellate Review of Counsel-Waiver Validity is De Novo (with Clear-Error Review of Underlying Facts) and Renewal After Charge Increase Requires Only a Focused Inquiry into the Changed...

CHIPS Exclusivity: Chapter 257C Third-Party Custody Petitions Are Non-Cognizable in Juvenile Court, and Advisory Constitutional Holdings Must Be Vacated

Date: Mar 13, 2026

CHIPS Exclusivity: Chapter 257C Third-Party Custody Petitions Are Non-Cognizable in Juvenile Court, and Advisory Constitutional Holdings Must Be Vacated 1. Introduction In In the Matter of the...

Price/Jarvis “Necessary and Reasonable” Test Satisfies § 253B.03, subd. 6(b)’s “Necessary to Preserve Life or Health” Requirement (No Separate Threshold Finding)

Date: Mar 13, 2026

Price/Jarvis “Necessary and Reasonable” Test Satisfies § 253B.03, subd. 6(b)’s “Necessary to Preserve Life or Health” Requirement (No Separate Threshold Finding) 1. Introduction Case: In the Matter...

Chapter 278 Exclusivity Bars Repackaged Tort, Statutory Discrimination, and Constitutional Claims Attacking Property Tax Valuation

Date: Mar 13, 2026

Chapter 278 Exclusivity Bars Repackaged Tort, Statutory Discrimination, and Constitutional Claims Attacking Property Tax Valuation Introduction In Theodore Lockhart, Sr., Relator v. Hennepin County...

No Sender Privacy in Recipient-Stored Messages; Social-Media Warrants Must Be Narrowed by Time/Subject

Date: Feb 27, 2026

No Sender Privacy in Recipient-Stored Messages; Social-Media Warrants Must Be Narrowed by Time/Subject Case: State of Minnesota v. Deshon Israel Bonnell | Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota | Date:...

Direct-Evidence Standard Governs Pre-Verdict Judgments of Acquittal Even When Proof Is Entirely Circumstantial (and Clarifies “Circumstances Proved”)

Date: Feb 27, 2026

Direct-Evidence Standard Governs Pre-Verdict Judgments of Acquittal Even When Proof Is Entirely Circumstantial (and Clarifies “Circumstances Proved”) 1. Introduction State of Minnesota v. Nicholas...

Reasonable Suspicion for a PBT Is Not “Dispelled” by a Passed HGN and No Physical Signs When Other Objective Facts Still Support Impairment

Date: Feb 6, 2026

Reasonable Suspicion for a PBT Is Not “Dispelled” by a Passed HGN and No Physical Signs When Other Objective Facts Still Support Impairment Case: Melissa Ann Lorsung v. Commissioner of Public Safety...

“Refused to Submit” Is Enough: No Mandatory “Actual Unwillingness” Jury Instruction in Minnesota Test-Refusal Cases

Date: Feb 5, 2026

“Refused to Submit” Is Enough: No Mandatory “Actual Unwillingness” Jury Instruction in Minnesota Test-Refusal Cases 1. Introduction Case: State of Minnesota v. Jamie Sara Schmeichel Court: Supreme...

Foreseeability as a Bar to Superseding-Cause Instructions in Innkeeper Negligence Cases

Date: Jan 31, 2026

Foreseeability as a Bar to Superseding-Cause Instructions in Innkeeper Negligence Cases Case: Alvin Glay, trustee for the next of kin of Unity McGill v. R.C. of St. Cloud, Inc. Court: Supreme Court...

Tribal Standing to Challenge Racetrack Gambling Expansions Based on a Competition-Restricted Gaming Market

Date: Jan 22, 2026

Tribal Standing to Challenge Racetrack Gambling Expansions Based on a Competition-Restricted Gaming Market 1. Introduction In In the Matter of the Minnesota Racing Commission's Approval of Running...

Civil Investigative Demand (CID) Litigation Equitably Tolls Limitations Periods for Minnesota Attorney General § 8.31 Enforcement Actions

Date: Jan 8, 2026

Civil Investigative Demand (CID) Litigation Equitably Tolls Limitations Periods for Minnesota Attorney General § 8.31 Enforcement Actions Introduction In State of Minnesota Office of the Attorney...

Post-Appointment Special-Election Ordinances in Statutory Cities: § 412.02, subd. 2a Permits Retroactive Application to Existing Vacancies and a Special Election Is Not “Removal” Under Article VIII, Section 5

Date: Jan 2, 2026

Post-Appointment Special-Election Ordinances in Statutory Cities: § 412.02, subd. 2a Permits Retroactive Application to Existing Vacancies and a Special Election Is Not “Removal” Under Article VIII,...

State v. Douglas: Limiting Minnesota’s Good‑Faith Exception for Marijuana‑Odor Vehicle Searches

Date: Dec 27, 2025

State v. Douglas: Limiting Minnesota’s Good‑Faith Exception for Marijuana‑Odor Vehicle Searches I. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Raenard Romalle Douglas, A24‑0385 (Minn. Dec. 24, 2025), the...

Proportionality and Unemployment Fraud Penalties: Thigpen v. Best Home Care LLC and the Scope of the Excessive Fines Clause in Minnesota

Date: Dec 27, 2025

Proportionality and Unemployment Fraud Penalties: Thigpen v. Best Home Care LLC and the Scope of the Excessive Fines Clause in Minnesota Case: Christopher Thigpen v. Best Home Care LLC, Department of...

State v. Oliver: Recognizing Attempted First-Degree Assault-Harm as a Cognizable Offense Under Minnesota’s General Attempt Statute

Date: Dec 12, 2025

State v. Oliver: Recognizing Attempted First-Degree Assault-Harm as a Cognizable Offense Under Minnesota’s General Attempt Statute I. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Lisa Dawn Oliver, A23‑1062...

Bodily DNA, Inevitable Discovery, and Accomplice Testimony: A Commentary on State v. Steeprock

Date: Dec 5, 2025

Bodily DNA, Inevitable Discovery, and Accomplice Testimony: Commentary on State v. Steeprock, Minnesota Supreme Court (Dec. 3, 2025) I. Introduction The Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision in State v....

Section 204B.44 Is Election-Specific: Post-Election Petitions Are Moot and Cannot Be Reframed for Future Cycles

Date: Nov 15, 2025

Section 204B.44 Is Election-Specific: Post-Election Petitions Are Moot and Cannot Be Reframed for Future Cycles Introduction In Benda for Common-sense, a Minnesota Non-Profit Corporation, and...