Opinion ID: 1893113
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Challenges to the director's charges

Text: Petitioner, asking this court to order the director to strike several statements in the charges and make others more definite, contends that the charges are too vague, contradictory, duplicitous, and inadequately supported. It is important to note that we are dealing at this stage only with charges and not with a formal petition for discipline. The charges are issued only as part of a preliminary investigation to ascertain if there is probable cause for issuance of a formal petition. Cf. In re Agerter, 353 N.W.2d 908, 913 (Minn.1984) (investigation of judge's misconduct). Petitioner will have adequate opportunity to assert such claims if and when the charges mature into a formal petition. Given the preliminary nature of the charges issued by the director, we conclude that they need not comply with the stricter standard we would apply to charges in a formal petition but simply must give petitioner a general idea of what actions are being challenged. In considering the specific charges being challenged here, we are also mindful that we are not dealing with a trap for the unwary but with charges issued after years of investigation and litigation in related matters. Viewed in light of their informal nature and the extensive background peculiar to this case, we find the charges sufficiently specific to satisfy due process.