2010

10-1  USE OF LEADING QUESTIONS IN GUILTY PLEAS

10-2  FELONY SENTENCINGS: TWO COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS

10-3  SEARCH WARRANTS: 3 BASIC RULES THAT EVERY JUDGE MUST KNOW: 9 ADDITIONAL RULES EVERY JUDGE SHOULD KNOW (Replaced by 20-05)

10-4  DISTRICT COURT AND PLEA NEGOTIATIONS: HOW FAR IS TOO FAR

10-5  CONTESTED CHILD SUPPORT CIVIL CONSTRUCTIVE CONTEMPT HEARINGS

10-6  COURTROOM CLOSURE: FULL OR PARTIAL EXCLUSIONS

10-07 ADMISSIBILITY OF PRE-MIRANDA SILENCE (Replaced by 11-16)

10-8  DETERMINING ADMISSIBILITY OF HEARSAY – CRAWFORD V. WASHINGTON

10-9  ‘RULE 15’ TYPE QUESTIONS TO FINALIZE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS

10-10  JURY SELECTION ‘BATSON’ CHALLENGE (Replaced by 13-02)

10-11  LOTHENBACH PLEA: A POTENTIAL JUDICIAL LANDMINE

10-12  RESIDUAL HEARSAY EXCEPTION RULE

10-13  BATTERED WOMAN SYNDROME

10-14  PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT

10-15  ALFORD PLEA OF GUILTY (Replaced by 14-18)

10-16  NORGAARD PLEA OF GUILTY (UNABLE TO RECALL FACTS)   (Replaced by 15-16)

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10-17  DIVORCE TRIALS – DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

10-18  ACCEPTANCE OF GUILTY PLEA – WHEN?

10-19  IMPEACHMENT – PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION (REPLACED BY UPDATE 11-14)

10-20  TELEPHONIC SEARCH WARRANT

10-21  PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

10-22  A JUDGE’S SOLILOQUY ON JUDGING

                                  2011

11-1  MOTION FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL – TEN BASIC FACTS

11-2  CAUTIONARY JURY INSTRUCTIONS DURING TRIAL

11-3  JUDICIAL GUIDELINES FOR VOIR DIRE

11-4  CRIMINAL VOIR DIRE QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE COURT

11-5  DEFENDANT STIPULATES TO AN ELEMENT

11-6  JUDICIAL RESOURCE: ONLINE JUDGE’S BENCH BOOK

11-7  HOUSING COURT – EVICTIONS: 10 RULES EVERY JUDGE MUST KNOW  (Replaced by 14-22)

11-8  PROBATION REVOCATIONS: THE “AUSTIN” FINDINGS – CLARIFICATION

11-9  GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS:EVERYTHING A JUDGE NEEDS TO KNOW – ALMOST

11-10  FAMILY LAW MOTIONS – 10 BASIC RULES (Replaced by 12-09)

11-11  APPEALS AND REMANDS – 10 COMMON TRIGGERS

11-12  WARRANTLESS ARRESTS & DETENTIONS: 36 & 48 HOUR RULES

11-13  EX-PARTE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER: FIVE “DAHLBERG” FACTORS

11-14  IMPEACHMENT – PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION

11-15  RAPE VICTIM MYTHS – EXPERT TESTIMONY

11-16  ADMISSIBILITY OF PRE-ARREST SILENCE

11-17  JAIL CREDIT RULES (Replaced by 12-10)

11-18  CRIMINAL PRE-TRIAL CHECKLIST

                                  2012

12-1  PARENTING TIME EXPEDITOR VS. PARENTING CONSULTANT

12-2  CIVIL JUDGMENTS

12-3  DEFENDANT’S DEMAND FOR SUBSTITUTE PUBLIC DEFENDER

12-4  SPRIEGL EVIDENCE

12-5  JUDGE’S HANDBOOK ON MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS

12-6  ADMISSIBILITY OF DEFENDANTS PRIOR BAD ACTS

12-7  JAIL CREDIT CALCULATION – NEW SUPREME COURT CLARKIN RULE

12-8  CONSECUTIVE SENTENCING

12-9 FAMILY LAW MOTIONS – 10 BASIC RULES

12-10 MINNESOTA JAIL CREDIT MANUAL

                                     2013

13-1  WAIVER OF EXTRADITION ADVISORY

13-2  BATSON CHALLENGE (REPLACES 10-10)

13-3  POST DECREE MOTIONS TO MODIFY CUSTODY BASED ON ENDANGERMENT

13-4  CHILD SUPPORT – 5 TAX RULES EVERY JUDGE SHOULD KNOW

13-5  ORDERING DEFENDANTS TO WEAR RESTRAINTS DURING TRIAL

13-6  MISSOURI VS MCNEELY AND TELEPHONIC SEARCH WARRANTS

13-7  JUDICIAL SENTENCING OVERSIGHT

13-8  GAL REPORTS – THE FOOL-PROOF HEARSAY TEST     (Replaced by 20-01)

13-9  DIMLER AMENDMENT

13-10  WARRANTLESS MOTOR VEHICLE SEARCHES

13-11  ADMISSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

13-12  OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS

13-13  IMMIGRATION: 5 FACTS EVERY JUDGE & ATTORNEY SHOULD KNOW (Includes March 7, 2014 amendment)

13-14  RESTITUTION vs FINES – WHAT GETS PAID FIRST – NEW RULE

13-15  “JUDICIAL LANDMINES”, 20 COMMON MISTAKES EVERY JUDGE SHOULD AVOID

                                     2014

14-01  ORDERING SUMMARY JUDGMENT SUA SPONTE THE MORNING OF TRIAL

14-02  ADMISSIBILITY OF BUSINESS RECORDS – FIVE QUESTiONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED – Rule 803(6)

14-03  WEAPONS AND HAZARDOUS EXHIBITS IN THE COURTROOM POLICY

14-04  OFP & HRO HEARINGS – DUE PROCESS VIOLATION = REVERSAL

14-05  COURTROOM INTERPRETERS – 6 PROCEDURAL STEPS TO FOLLOW

14-06  HANDLING YOUR FIRST ELECTRONIC (paperless) CALENDAR – TEN SIMPLE STEPS TO FOLLOW

14-07  BAIL HEARINGS IN FELONY STRANGULATION CASES – 7 MEDICAL-LEGAL FACTS EVERY JUDGE SHOULD KNOW (MINNESOTA)

14-08  CROSS-EXAMINATION – JUDICIAL CHECKLIST FOR USE IN MENTORING ATTORNEYS

14-09  MINNESOTA HANDBOOK ON MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS AND WARRANTLESS SEARCHES

14-10  FIFTEEN JUDICIAL TRAINING UPDATES NEW JUDGES SHOULD USE IN COURT

14-11  SEARCH OF CELL PHONES – LANDMARK SUPREME COURT DECISION

14-12  CONCILIATION COURT – PROOF OF SERVICE – URBAN MYTH

14-13  OFP ADVISORY TO RESPONDENTS – ANOTHER URBAN MYTH

14-14  NEW JUDGE ADVICE – RELY ON AND LEARN FROM YOUR IN-COURT CLERKS

 14-15 HEARSAY v. NON-HEARSAY: THE FOOL-PROOF HEARSAY TEST

14-16 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – HOW JUDGES CAN HELP EDUCATE THE ABUSER

14-17 COURT-RELATED VIOLENCE – 15 FACTS THAT EVERY JUDGE (and attorney) SHOULD KNOW

14-18 ALFORD (Defendant Denies Guilt) PLEA OF GUILTY

14-19 CIVIL JURY TRIALS: 10 TRIAL ISSUES JUDGES NEED TO KNOW

14-20 URINE DRUG TESTING: WHAT JUDGES NEED TO KNOW

14-21 MINNESOTA’S 2014 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FIRARM ACT – 8 FACTS THAT JUDGES NEED TO KNOW

14-22 HOUSING COURT – EVICTIONS: 12 RULES EVERY JUDGE MUST KNOW

14-23  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: “SAFE AT HOME” PROGRAM – IMPORTANT FACTS EVERY JUDGE SHOULD KNOW

14-24  DISTRICT COURT REVIEW OF ARBITRATION AWARDS – ONE COMMON MISTAKE THAT JUDGES CAN EASILY FIX

                                     2015

15-01  MINNESOTA’S NEW EXPUNGEMENT LAW – A STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR JUDGES & ATTORNEYS

15-01A MINNESOTA’S NEW EXPUNGEMENT LAW – PART TWO: SIX ADDITIONAL & IMPORTANT CLARIFICATIONS

15-02 EVIDENTIARY RULINGS – PRESERVING THE RECORD: 5 RULES EVERY JUDGE (and Attorney) MUST KNOW

15-03 PRO-SE DEFENDANTS AT TRIAL: EVERYTHING THAT JUDGES & ATTORNEYS NEED TO KNOW

15-04 SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE & “KARON WAIVERS”: THE #1 RULE THAT EVERY JUDGE (and Attorney) SHOULD KNOW

15-05 TRANSGENDER NAME CHANGE PETITIONS: CHANGING GENDER DESIGNATION ON A BIRTH CERTIFICATE

15-06  JUDGE’S ON -LINE JURY TRIAL BENCH BOOK

15-07  CRIMINAL MOTIONS FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL

15-08 TOP TEN FUNNY JUDICIAL QUOTES

15-09 PARADEE MOTIONS – WHAT JUDGES NEED TO KNOW & TWO SAMPLE ORDERS

15-10 IMPEACHMENT – PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS (TWO SAMPLE IMPEACHMENT SCRIPTS)

15-11 USING AUDIO RECORDINGS AND TRANSCRIPTS AT TRIAL – The “Olkon” Cautionary Jury Instruction & Protecting Your Court Reporter

15-12  JUDICIAL DECISION-MAKING: Dangers of “Implicit Bias” & “Decision Fatigue”

15-13 IMMIGRANT CRIME VICTIMS & THE U-VISA CERTIFICATE: What is it and Why Should Judges Care? Ten Rules That Every Judge (and attorney/officer) Should Know

15-14 JUDICIAL & LEGAL WRITING: The #1 Rule for Improving = CUTTING (Replaced by 20-02)

15-15 FELONY SENTECING & PROBATION VIOLATION HEARINGS: The one thing a judge should never say or promise

15-16 NORGAARD PLEA OF GUILTY (Unable to Recall Facts)                      

                                     2016

1. 16-01 THE RISE, FALL & RESURRECTION OF FORMER JUDGE PENDLETON (July 15, 2016)  Deleted

2. 16-02 NOTICE: I’M CHANGING THE NAME OF THE BLOG BACK TO IT’S ORIGINAL TITLE (Interesting back story) (July 20, 2016)  Deleted

3.  16-03 WHAT EVERY JUDGE & ATTORNEY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT HANDLING EVIDENCE DURING TRIAL – 10 BASIC RULES (July 26, 2016)

4. 16-04 In a jury trial how can you tell if your presiding judge is inexperience incompetent or simply lazy (8-8-2016)

5. 16-05 Judge advises defendant “You have a constitutional right to be a dumb-ass.” Welcome to the funniest and filthiest court transcript of all time. (8-22-2016) 

6. 16-06 Question: What is one of the most common mistakes made by trial attorneys when cross-examining an expert witness? (9-26-2016)

7. 16-07 The depressed lawyer: why are so many lawyers unhappy? (10-9-2016)

8. 16-08 Snapchat as evidence: the smoking gun often overlooked (12-11-2016)

                                     2017 

1. 17-01 The “Rule of Primacy”, the cornerstone to effective trial advocacy. Plus some bonus acting tips (1-16-2017)

2. 17-02 Ten tips that every new attorney should know (7-24-2017)

3. 17-03 Exposing implicit racial bias during jury selection….How? (9-25-2017)

4. 17-04 Criminal jury trial judges manual “A step by step guide from the beginning of trial thru the return of verdict”  (11-14-2017)

5. 17-05 The power of gratitude – improving your life & legal practice (12-25-2017)

                                     2018

1. 18-01 Bail hearings in felony strangulation cases  seven medical – physiological facts every judge and attorney should know (2-3-2018)

                                     2020

1. 20-01 Admissibility of guardian ad litem (gas) reports: How to overcome hearsay objections (3-31-2020)

2. 20-02 Judicial & legal writing: The number #1 rule for improvement – Cutting 

3. 20-03 Judicial Decision-Making Fatigue: Can hunger and fatigue affect judicial fairness?  YES 

4. 20-04 Introduction to Minnesota’s most convenient and simple legal research library

5. 20-05 Search Warrants: Answers to 12 core questions every judge and attorney should know.