Source: http://ramseylawlibrary.org/?cat=6&paged=2
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:25:09+00:00

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U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf of Nebraska has shut down his witty and popular Hercules and the Umpire blog, according to the National Law Journal (NLJ). Apparently Koph’s blog had became an “embarrassment” to the Court, and sometimes hinted of being a political soapbox of sorts (which federal judges are required to abstain from). Subscribers to the NLJ can read about his now-inactive blog, and also his interview with NLJ. Remember that that Judge Kopf was the sentencing judge in the Shon Hopwood case, and that he followed Hopwood’s inspiring career development on his blog. Nonetheless, Judge Koph’s blog has been called out as perhaps a blog that pushes too close to the boundaries of what is appropriate for a federal judge.
Here in Minnesota, Anoka County District Judge Pendleton has become a blogging legend in his own right, for his blog is the platform of his excellent and informative Pendleton Updates. Minnesota Lawyer put the spotlight Judge Pendleton’s blog in its August 17 issue. Also check out Wright County District Judge Stephen Halsey’s Jurors Behaving Badly blog which addresses “the very small percentage of jurors who fail to follow the judge’s instructions,” plus his Minnesota Family Law Issues blog. Also, Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burk is the author of the American Judges Association blog.
So, you can see that some judge blogs are about providing concrete information, whereas others lean more toward reflective musings and conversation-starters. If you are bringing a case before a known blogger judge, it certainly cannot hurt to check out their blog. Do you have a favorite judge blog? Please share it with us!
Its elegant first impression in navy blue seems as timeless as your favorite suit. For faithful users of a classic legal tool, this is your last summer. I speak of Westlaw Classic, which will be discontinued as of August 31. Classic has remained surprisingly popular among regular users of the Law Library. It’s no surprise that some folks are pretty unhappy with its discontinuation.
Before we arrive at wedding season’s summer peak, people might as well know what resources exist for their divorce. It is easy to find the official divorce forms on the Courts webpage. Filling them out is even quicker and easier with the I-CAN! online interactive forms. The language of the forms has been updated for gender neutrality. Likewise, it is easy to work with the Family Self-Help Center to have your forms reviewed, or to speak to a volunteer lawyer about your situation. If people still have questions, they are more than welcome to check the information resources we have at the law library. After all, divorce can be complicated, especially where children or real estate are involved.
One modern trend might come with unique complications of its own. Here I speak of the growing trend of senior divorce (commonly known as “gray divorce”). Even as divorce rates have stabilized or declined for other age groups, the rate among people 50 and older has doubled since 1990. This increase is due to numerous reasons, but is mostly just an evolution away from a time when an unhappy older couple automatically stayed legally married regardless of marital satisfaction or circumstances. Regarding the complications, senior divorce is likely to involve more assets to divide and more health and retirement issues to account for.
Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about those who might accidentally land in the criminal justice system. It is also a time to consider the mental health of lawyers. For those legal practitioners seeking to grow their own professional happiness and satisfaction, it turns out that money and prestige aren’t on the list of essential ingredients. A New York Times article recently showcased a Yale Law School study which revealed that it was those lawyers making the least money that scored highest on a happiness survey. These included most notably public defenders and Legal Aid attorneys. The findings of this study were similarly echoed in a Minnesota Lawyer blog.
If your mental state has deteriorated to the point that your work quality could be affected, see about getting some help through an organization like Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Are you a law firm associate on the fast track to partnership hoping that true happiness will finally enter your life when you make partner? An author of the Yale study believes that this likely won’t prove true. His conclusion from the findings is that prestigious firm jobs simply do not provide the “feelings of competence, autonomy or connection to others—three pillars of self-determination” that public service-oriented jobs do. But you don’t have to leave the firm partner track to take advantage of these happiness factors. For an afternoon of public service, consider volunteering for our Housing and Conciliation Court clinic. Our volunteer lawyers find that the offering answers and advice to our community’s residents who need it most to be an immediately rewarding and satisfying experience.
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. If people don’t make an automatic connection between mental illness and law, perhaps they should. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) from 2006 showed that 64% of local jail inmates, 56% of state prisoners and 45% of federal prisoners had symptoms of serious mental illnesses. According to NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), about 25% of the men and 65% of the women in Minnesota state prisons receive treatment for mental illnesses. These numbers would indicate that jails and prisons have become the default landing place for those with mental illnesses. This is further demonstrated by this state-by-state survey from the National Sheriffs’ Association.
Ideally, people with mental illnesses get the help they need outside of the court system, but too often this is not the case. The end result is that people frequently wind up in the criminal justice system directly or indirectly as a result of untreated (or inadequately treated) mental illness. It is fortunate that our justice system is becoming more aware of this reality, and that these cases need more than traditional criminal justice and penal tools. Ramsey County’s Mental Health Court Program (RCMHC) is one of 3 mental health courts in the state of Minnesota, and was created so that the 2nd Judicial District could deliver “more specialized and individualized” justice to mentally ill criminal defendants. For an inside look, see this recent William Mitchell Law Review article written by Ramsey District Judge John Guthmann about the RCMHC and mental health courts in general.
Are you an attorney working with a mentally ill client and need to know how best to advocate with their special needs in mind? There are some great resources online, especially from NAMI Minnesota. These include ”Advocating for People with Mental Illnesses in the Criminal Justice System” and “Juvenile Justice: Advocating for a Child with a Mental Illness.” Here in the law library we now have the Mental Disability Law: Civil and Criminal (Lexis 2nd Ed.) treatise set by Michael Perlin. We also have the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5 for your convenience, as well as books that address the legal uses and interpretations of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Finally, you might find this simple issue spotting list helpful.
The subject of adoption typically conjures the image of a childless couple facing the lengthy administrative ordeal in order to become parents of an infant or small child. The less visible reality is often an adult who wants to step up and be the official parent to a child they already know, or of an adult who marries a parent and wants to legally adopt the step-child.
If you are considering adoption, either as a biological or as an adoptive parent, there is a wealth of information to aid your research. Start by reading Minnesota Statutes §259.20 – §259.89. Information about completing adoption’s legal processes can be found in this brochure from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Be aware that adoption is a serious legal undertaking, however, and one should get the advice of an adoption lawyer if they are considering it. Are you an attorney who doesn’t usually practice adoption law, but has a client in one of the above scenarios that wants to make their parenthood status official? The law library has extensive family and adoption law resources, but the most simple and practical might be Adoption Law: Start to Finish (NBI June 2013). This tool looks at different types of adoption, presents applicable Minnesota statutes and rules, and even offers guidelines for dealing with unexpected obstacles. Legal forms are also included.
Anyway, Happy Mothers Day to all mothers, regardless of how they got that title.
We know that modern habeas corpus law has its roots in the historical Magna Carta, but what is the role of habeas corpus in modern law? Who may petition for such a writ? What tools are available for seeking this writ and where are can they be found? The writ of habeas corpus is clearly specified in both the U.S. Constitution (Article I Section 9) and the Minnesota State Constitution (Article I, Section 7). Minnesota statutory law specifically outlines the provisions for a writ of habeas corpus under M.S.A. §589. Basically speaking, “[A] person imprisoned or otherwise restrained of liberty, except persons committed or detained by virtue of the final judgment of a competent tribunal of civil or criminal jurisdiction, or by virtue of an execution issued upon the judgment, may apply for a writ of habeas corpus to obtain relief from imprisonment or restraint.” Conveniently, M.S.A. §589.05 even provides form language for seeking state habeas corpus relief.
Habeas corpus is probably more commonly understood in its federal application, as a remedy for a person in custody pursuant to a state court judgment to petition the federal courts for relief, and who has exhausted all of their state remedies. This application of habeas corpus as a legal remedy provided under 28 U.S. Code §2254, plus its historical significance, is described in detail by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Fay v. Noia 372 U.S. 391 (1963). Forms to file for the different federal writs of habeas corpus (including §2254) are available at the website of the U.S. District Court of Minnesota. This page offers two different habeas corpus petition packets (based on different sections of U.S. Code), so one should carefully read the enclosed instructions prior to making their final selection. If you are an attorney embarking on a habeas corpus filing, the library has some additional resources that might help.
Allan Ellis’s Federal Prison Guidebook (James Publishing 2015) by Alan Ellis et al. This is a book of programs and policies for 105 prisons, including educational, vocational, and apprenticeship opportunities, UNICOR, counseling and rehabilitation services, fitness and recreation facilities, religious services, telephone policy, accommodations in surrounding area, and much more. There is an entire chapter providing guidelines for preparing habeas corpus motions.
Federal Habeas Corpus Practice and Procedure (LexisNexis 6th Ed. 2011) by Randy Hertz and James S. Liebman This is an authoritative and practical 2-volume treatise with practical advice and expert analysis from practitioners and subject matter experts. The treatise and the accompanying supplement includes the latest habeas corpus case law as well as important statutory changes.
Of course, don’t miss our Law Day event this Thursday (April 30) which will feature a special talk on habeas corpus.
The fast-paced existence of most lawyers seldom allows much time for personal future planning. Yet wouldn’t any self-respecting lawyer want to make sure they have the final word on how they eventually end their practice? In truth, even if you swear you will never retire, the very nature of life allows no one to practice forever.* Failure to plan for the inevitable can bring harm to clients, not to mention stress and inconvenience to partners and loved ones. And while Rule 27 of the Minnesota Rules on Lawyer Professional Responsibility allows a trustee appointment for a lawyer who cannot properly discharge duties to clients due to “disability, disappearance or death,” the best way to protect your clients (and loved ones) against such unforseeables is to have a written contingency plan already in place.
K. William Gibson (ed.), Flying Solo : A Survival Guide for the Solo and Small Firm Lawyer (5th ed. 2015). This new edition of Flying Solo provides its usual time-tested answers to real-life questions, with its primary focus on the practical matters of starting a law practice. Special emphasis here is given to the chapter “When I Die, Part II.” Here are detailed instructions for how to plan a special instructional notebook to assist survivors in the unfortunate event of your untimely disability or demise.
Peter A. Giuliani, Passing the Torch Without Getting Burned: A Guide to Law Firm Retirement and Succession Planning (2013). This book is meant to identify the economic variables and issues that must be considered for retirement from the perspective of law partnerships and firms. It analyzes such retirement policies as “emeritus status” arrangements, mandatory retirements, and compensation packages. It also information on how to gracefully bow out of a partnership, versus how and when to dissolve or sell the partnership.
Susan A. Berson, The Lawyer’s Retirement Planning Guide (2010). This practical book looks at retirement’s more personal angle, with guidance on investing your money and managing your retirement withdrawals. It also includes health tips for longetivity and advice for handling family finances. In short, this is a book of practical advice on long-term planning that everyone should consider, and not just lawyers.
*On a related note: The Ramsey County Bar Association (RCBA) will hold its annual memorial service for recently-deceased lawyers next week.
Last week fans of Better Call Saul got to watch hero/villian Jimmy McGill essentially demonstrate the legal principle that there is no privacy expectation protected under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when it comes to your curbside garbage. In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court held in California v. Greenwood that the Constitution does not prohibit warrantless search of curbside garbage left for collection. (486 U.S. 35). Coincidentally, the Minnesota Supreme Court recently put the whole garbage-as-discoverable-evidence doctrine under the microscope of the Minnesota Constitution in the case of State v. McMurray (A12-2266).

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