Monthly Archives: July 2025

The Power of Gratitude: Transforming the Lives of Attorneys and Judges

Dear Colleagues,

Start 2026 with Purpose — and Neuroscience.

In the high-stakes world of legal practice, mental health challenges are more than just common — they’re statistically alarming. But emerging neuroscience shows that one simple mindset shift can make a measurable difference.

This Training Update explores The Power of Gratitude — not as a soft sentiment, but as a science-backed, data-driven strategy to boost well-being, reduce stress, and rewire the brain for resilience and focus. For attorneys and judges navigating high-conflict environments, gratitude may be the most underutilized legal tool in your arsenal.

What better way to begin 2026 than by exploring how a small daily practice can lead to sustainable personal and professional transformation?

👉 Click here to read the full print-ready update.

If you find this update helpful, please consider forwarding it to colleagues or staff who may benefit. And if you haven’t already, visit the Minnesota Judicial Training and Education Website to subscribe and receive future updates directly.

Special thanks to Martine Law Paralegals Autumn Amick and Brian Louis for generously contributing their insight and expertise to this update.


Martine Law Training Updates will continue to focus on key areas of litigation, including Criminal and Family Law, Evidence and Procedure, and Trial Advocacy. With a subscriber base exceeding 3,500 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals, these updates reflect our firm’s commitment to the belief that legal education is the soul of the judiciary.

Warm regards,
Alan F. Pendleton
Of Counsel, Martine Law Firm
Director of Mentorship and Education
Former District Court Judge
alan@xmartinelaw.com

Alford Plea of Guilty (Defendant Denies Guilt): A Three-Step Process to “Appeal-Proof” the Plea

Three Steps to Making a Proper Record

Dear Colleagues,

Attached is my latest Martine Law Training Update, focused on a topic that continues to trip up even experienced attorneys and judges: the Alford plea.

Most of us rarely encounter these pleas—and that’s precisely when mistakes happen. A sloppy record can easily lead to reversal on appeal. This update does more than educate. It provides a clear, 3-step process that doubles as an in-court script to ensure that every Alford plea is entered properly, thoroughly, and—with confidence—appeal-proof.

Whether you’re a trial judge or trial attorney, this update gives you everything you need to handle an Alford plea correctly the next time it appears on your calendar.

Click to read the full training update here:
👉 Martine Law Training Update 25-7: Alford Pleas of Guilty

As always, please feel free to forward this update to colleagues who may benefit from it. Thank you for continuing to make legal education part of your practice.

Special thanks to Martine Law attorneys Luke McClure and Kalen Best for generously contributing their insight and expertise to this update.


NOTE: This training update is also available on the Minnesota Judicial Training and Education Website. While visiting, you can subscribe to receive notifications of new updates. Please share this training update with colleagues, clerks, or anyone who would benefit from staying current on Minnesota law and litigation strategy.


Martine Law Training Updates will continue to focus on key areas of litigation, including Criminal and Family Law, Evidence and Procedure, and Trial Advocacy. With a subscriber base exceeding 3,500 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals, these updates reflect our commitment to the belief that legal education is the soul of the judiciary.

Warm regards,
Alan F. Pendleton
Of Counsel, Martine Law Firm
Director of Mentorship and Education
Former District Court Judge

How to Keep a Speeding Ticket off your Minnesota Driving Record: The Dimler Amendment (M.S. 171.12, Subd 6)

Most attorneys know that even a single speeding ticket can spike insurance premiums, jeopardize a commercial license, or contribute to a driver’s license suspension depending on the individual’s past driving history. But few attorneys—and even fewer clients—know that a little-known Minnesota statute, the “Dimler Amendment,” can prevent many minor speeding convictions from ever appearing on a driver’s official record.

In this Training Update, we take a deep dive into M.S. 171.12, subd. 6, which quietly shields certain low-level speeding violations in 55 and 60 mph zones from being reported on a person’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) driving record. When used correctly, it can protect your clients’ insurance rates, help avoid license sanctions, and preserve clean records for job or court purposes.

This is a practical tool every criminal and family law attorney should have in their legal toolkit. Whether you’re negotiating a minor traffic ticket for a client, helping a friend or family member, or even dealing with your own citation—knowledge of the Dimler Amendment is power.

This update explains:

  • Which violations qualify and which don’t;
  • How and when to ask for a speed reduction;
  • What role judges, prosecutors, and officers each play;
  • What to do if you’re charged with a non-speeding infraction.

Read the full training update here:
👉 Click to Read Martine Law Training Update 25-6 – The Dimler Amendment

Special thanks to Martine Law attorneys Tyler Martin and Abbey Rostamo for generously contributing their insight and expertise to this update.


NOTE: This training update is also available on the Minnesota Judicial Training and Education Website. While visiting, you can subscribe to receive notifications of new updates. Please share this training update with colleagues, clerks, or anyone who would benefit from staying current on Minnesota law and litigation strategy.


Martine Law Training Updates will continue to focus on key areas of litigation, including Criminal and Family Law, Evidence and Procedure, and Trial Advocacy. With a subscriber base exceeding 3,500 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals, these updates reflect our firm’s commitment to the belief that legal education is the soul of the judiciary.

Top 10 Family Law Motion Rules Every Lawyer Must Know

New Martine Law Training Update on Family Law Motions – Ten Basic Rules Every Practitioner Should Know:


Family court motion practice is full of procedural landmines—miss a filing deadline, cite the wrong statute, or attach unsworn documents, and your argument may never be heard. Our latest Training Update cuts through the confusion with a clear and practical guide to the Ten Basic Rules of Family Law Motions.

Whether you’re filing for temporary relief, responding to a contempt motion, or preparing affidavits, this update will help you avoid the most common mistakes and improve your courtroom effectiveness.

📘 Highlights include:

  • How to avoid fatal service errors
  • What qualifies as a valid affidavit (and what doesn’t)
  • When courts must prioritize parenting time disputes under the new 2024 law
  • Why unsworn attachments can sink your motion
  • And much more.

Click here to read the full update: MLTU Family Law Motions – Ten Basic Rules (25-5).
Stay sharp, stay current—your clients (and the court) will thank you.

Special thanks to Martine Family Law attorneys Rhiley O’Rourke and Nicole Geffre for generously contributing their insight and expertise to this update.


NOTE: This training update is also available on the Minnesota Judicial Training and Education Website. While visiting, you can subscribe to receive notifications of new updates. Please share this training update with colleagues, clerks, or anyone who would benefit from staying current on Minnesota law and litigation strategy.


Martine Law Training Updates will continue to focus on key areas of litigation, including Criminal and Family Law, Evidence and Procedure, and Trial Advocacy. With a subscriber base exceeding 3,500 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals, these updates reflect our firm’s commitment to the belief that legal education is the heart of the judiciary.