Author Archives: Alan F. Pendleton, "Of Counsel" Martine Law Firm, Director of Mentorship & Education, Former District Court Judge

Admissibility of Defendants Prior Bad Acts Including Relationship Evidence (12-06)

Posted on October 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

QUESTION: To be Admissible, Evidence of Prior Bad Acts of Defendant, including Defendant’s Relationship with the Victim, Must Fit within 1 of 4 Exceptions to the General Rule Prohibiting Evidence of Bad Character.

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Pendleton12.06-Admissibility_of_Defendants_Prior_Bad_Acts

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Posted in Domestic Violence, EVIDENCE, Prior Bad Acts & Relationship Evidence, Relationship Evidence

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Judges Handbook on Motor Vehicle Stops (12-05)

Posted on August 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

This update is a reprint of Chapter one of the Minnesota Handbook on Motor Vehicle Stops & Warrantless Motor Vehicle Searches. It is limited to legal issues involved in the stop and detention of a motor vehicle by law enforcement. 

FOREWORD: Challenging the legality of a motor vehicle stop is one of the most common legal arguments raised in support of a motion to suppress. This update is designed to provide judges and attorneys with a comprehensive reference guide to the laws governing motor vehicle stops. 

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Pendleton12.05-Judges_Handbook_on_Motor-Vehicle_Stops

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Posted in CRIMINAL PRETRIAL, Judges Handbook on Motor Vehicle Stops, MOTOR VEHICLES

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Warrantless Motor Vehicle Searches: Summary Reference Chart (13-10)

Posted on July 29, 2012 | 3 comments

This update is a supplement to the Minnesota Handbook on Motor Vehicle Stops & Warrantless Searches and provides a SUMMARY REFERENCE CHART of the seven (7) exceptions to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement under which warrantless stops and searches of motor vehicles may be justified.

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Pendleton13.10-Warrantless_Motor_Vehicle_Searches

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Posted in Motor Vehicle Stop & Warrantless Search Chart, MOTOR VEHICLES, SEARCH & SEIZURE, Warrantless Motor Vehicle Search Chart

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Spriegl Evidence – 5 Step Process (12-04)

Posted on April 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

QUESTION: STATE FILES A MOTION-IN-LIMINE SEEKING ADMISSION OF SPREIGL EVIDENCE. WHAT 5 STEP PROCESS MUST THE COURT FOLLOW IN REACHING A DECISION?

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Pendleton12.04-Spriegl_Evidence-5_Step_Process_Amended

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Posted in EVIDENCE, Spriegl - 5 Step Process

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Defendant’s Demand for Substitute Public Defender (12-03)

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

QUESTION: What is the appropriate judicial response if Defendant complains about his assigned Public Defender and demands a substitute attorney? What basic rules and procedures apply?

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Pendleton12.03-Defendant’s_Demand_for_Substitute_Public_Defender

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Posted in CRIMINAL PRETRIAL, Substitute Public Defender

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Civil Judgments – Ten Questions Every Judge Should Know (12-02)

Posted on February 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

This Update answers ten basic questions that every judge and attorney should know about civil judgments.

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PendletonUpdate12.02

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Posted in Civil Judgments - 10 Basic Rules, CIVIL PROCEDURE

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Parenting Time Expeditor vs. Parenting Consultant (12-01)

Posted on February 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

QUESTION: You Are Presiding Over A High Conflict Family Law Case With Numerous Parenting Time Disputes. You Would Like To Utilize The Services of A “Parenting Time Expeditor” or “Parenting Consultant” to Help Resolve those Disputes. What Is The Difference? 

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Pendleton12.01-Parenting_Time_Expeditor_vs_Parenting_Consultant

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Posted in DIVORCE ISSUES, Parenting Time Expeditor v. Parenting Consultant

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Criminal Pre-Trial Checklist (11-18)

Posted on December 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

ATTACHED IS A CRIMINAL PRE-TRIAL CHECKLIST THAT JUDGES CAN USE TO DISCUSS PROCEDURAL, SUBSTANTIVE AND EVIDENTIARY ISSUES WITH ATTORNEYS IN CHAMBERS PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL.

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Pendleton11.18-Criminal_Pre-Trial_Checklist

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Posted in Criminal Pre-Trial Checklist, CRIMINAL PRETRIAL, Pre-Trial Checklist, TRIAL ISSUES

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Admissibility of Pre-Arrest Silence (11-16)

Posted on October 14, 2011 | 1 comment

WHEN RULING ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF A DEFENDANT’S PRE-ARREST, PRE-MIRANDA SILENCE (FOR USE IN THE STATE’S CASE-IN-CHIEF) THERE ARE 4 PRIMARY QUESTIONS THE COURT MUST ANSWER.

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Pendleton11.16-Admissibility_of_Pre-Arrest_Silence

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Posted in EVIDENCE, Pre-Arrest Silence

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Rape Victim Myths – Expert Testimony; Supreme Court Clarification (11-15)

Posted on September 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

QUESTION: During A Criminal Sexual Conduct Jury Trial In Which Defendant Claims Consent, The Prosecution Attempts To Introduce Expert Testimony To Describe And Explain ‘Counterintuitive Rape Victim Behaviors’ (Common Rape Myths) Exhibited By Adult Victims Of Sexual Assaults. What are these common rape myths?

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Pendleton11.15-Rape_Victim_Myths

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Posted in EVIDENCE, Rape Victim Myths - Expert Testimony

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