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The official publication of the Minnesota State Bar Association

Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 4th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Aug 05, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
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  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 8th Judicial District
Jul 27, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a vacancy in Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Road to Nowhere: A 2022 Minnesota legislative session recap
Bryan Lake
Jul 26, 2022
The wisdom of a balanced approach is evident in many areas of life. Unfortunately, at the state Capitol, a historic budget surplus was not enough to balance significant partisan differences.
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The lawyer as an inclusive leader
Dr. Artika Tyner
Jul 26, 2022
How can lawyers take intentional action for justice and equity? In Dr. Artika Tyner's latest book, she provides a pathway for lawyers to effect change by engaging in a process of self-reflection, grappling with unconscious biases, fostering innovation, and taking action for the betterment of society.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Diversity and Inclusion
SPAC-tacular—The rise of SPACs and corresponding developments in securities litigation
Bryce Riddle and Kyle Willems
Jul 26, 2022
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) are shell companies that raise capital in initial public offerings for the purpose of merging with or acquiring a privately held company. This article examines what SPACs are and discusses current legal trends that have arisen in the SPAC space.
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The three Cs of legal technology and ethics
Kristi Paulson
Jul 26, 2022
The evolving technology of the modern law office is rapidly redefining how and where we work. But while the habits and habitats of contemporary law practice have changed, the Rules of Professional Conduct and our obligations as lawyers under these rules have not. Let’s take a look at the three Cs of legal technology and ethics: competence, confidentiality and communication.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Technology
Building a better bar admissions process
Leanne Fuith
Jul 26, 2022
A look at what the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners is doing in its two-year study of the bar exam—and what other jurisdictions are considering.
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Notes & Trends—August 2022
Jul 25, 2022
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  • Notes & Trends
Who's your favorite fictional lawyer or law firm?
Jul 25, 2022
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  • Colleague Corner
What critical infrastructure efforts can teach us about cyber resilience
Mark Lanterman
Jul 25, 2022
The possibility of an attack on critical infrastructure remains a major concern, and realistically, every sector is at heightened risk. What changes should be made to cybersecurity strategies, and how can an organization improve its security posture cost effectively and quickly?
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  • CATEGORY
  • Technology
Due diligence on lawyers
Susan Humiston
Jul 25, 2022
“Disclosures” is the term we use to refer to disclosure of an attorney’s disciplinary history. In this column, Susan Humiston explains what disciplinary history is available to the public, and why it is a good idea for anyone hiring a lawyer to vet their lawyer using the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.
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  • Professional Responsibility
MSBA in Action
Jul 25, 2022
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  • MSBA in Action
President's Page: Renewing the wellness call to action
Paul Peterson
Jul 25, 2022
President Paul Peterson shares progress made on the Minnesota Supreme Court and United States District Court for the district of Minnesota's call to action on lawyer well-being. The “renewal” aspect of this year’s program reflects a re-examination and recommitment to wellness on the part of the profession following the impact of the pandemic and the shutdown.
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  • President's Page
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 3rd Judicial District
Jul 25, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a vacancy in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Notice of U.S. Magistrate Judge Vacancy in District of Minnesota
Jul 21, 2022
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, District of Minnesota.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Natalie Martinez to fill 3rd Judicial District vacancy
Jul 11, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Natalie Martinez as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Advertising rule changes
Susan Humiston
Jun 30, 2022
Effective September 1, 2022, the section of the ethics rules colloquially called the “advertising rules” will undergo substantial revisions. Notably, most instances of the word “advertising” are gone from the rules, with a broader focus on information relating to a lawyer’s services. Let’s review the changes.
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  • Professional Responsibility
How the American Choice and Innovation Online Act may affect cybersecurity
Mark Lanterman
Jun 30, 2022
Less than a decade and a half into the smartphone era, it is already hard to envision a world in which instant information gathering, communication, and computing abilities aren’t available to us all the time, anywhere. A pending piece of federal legislation, the American Choice and Innovation Online Act, highlights the tension and illustrates the complicated set of expectations we have for Big Tech.
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  • Technology
What are the biggest misconceptions other attorneys have about your practice area?
Jun 30, 2022
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  • Colleague Corner
The uses and misuses of shall
Ian Lewenstein
Jun 30, 2022
All lawyers are intimately familiar with shall. Even before law school, most lawyers are introduced to the word, which sits prominently in the public domain in legal documents and corporate speak. Through osmosis, shall becomes entrenched as a cornerstone of a lawyer’s lexicon. But should it?
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Ending forced arbitration
Laura Farley
Jun 30, 2022
On March 3, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445). Courts will be tasked with interpreting the Act to consider what claims it covers and its applicability to existing claims.
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Answering the call
Amy Lindgren
Jun 30, 2022
For Paul Peterson, 2022-2023 president of the Minnesota State Bar Association, being a lawyer is more than a job. As Bill Harper, his law partner at Harper & Peterson, PLLC, says, “It’s a calling. He knows he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing.”
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Major changes coming to HIPAA privacy rules in 2022
Gregory J. Myers, David W. Asp, and Develyn J. Mistriotti
Jun 30, 2022
In January 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed revisions and additions to HIPAA and HITECH’s protected health information (PHI) and privacy regulations. This article details the proposed rule’s alterations to the HIPAA landscape and the major implications for health care entities and patients.
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We are family
Paul D. Peterson
Jun 30, 2022
From our bar foundation and our section leadership to our wonderful staff, strong committees, and outstanding New Lawyers Section, the president of the Minnesota State Bar Association is but one of many leaders. My goal in this coming year is to humbly assist the great leadership we have in place so that our organization can shine.
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  • President's Page
MSBA in Action
Jun 30, 2022
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  • MSBA in Action
Landmarks in the law
Jun 30, 2022
Notes and trends in the law.
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  • Notes & Trends
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancies in the 4th Judicial District
Jun 28, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced two vacancies in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 3rd Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Jun 13, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
If you weren't in the legal profession, what would you be doing?
Jun 13, 2022
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  • Colleague Corner
Gov. Walz appoints Melissa Houghtaling to fill 4th Judicial District vacancy
Jun 07, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Melissa Houghtaling as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 5th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Jun 07, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Landmarks in the law
Jun 02, 2022
Notes and trends in the law.
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  • Notes & Trends
Not immune from change
Jack Finck and Colin Hunter Hargreaves
Jun 01, 2022
A guide to approaching ADA medical accommodation requests to telework by immunocompromised employees in light of the covid-19 pandemic.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Employment Law
Hiding in plain sight
Natalie Netzel
Jun 01, 2022
Vicarious trauma is just part of the job for many lawyers. Time to talk—and do—more about it.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Mental Health
  • Wellbeing
The shield of judicial immunity protects receivers
George H. Singer
Jun 01, 2022
The United States Supreme Court recently declined to second-guess a decision from the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, which had determined that court-appointed bankruptcy receivers are entitled to quasi-judicial immunity when they act within the court’s authority.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Courts
Protecting gig workers and independent contractors under the MHRA
Katherine Rollins
May 31, 2022
Companies that rely on the labor of independent contractors tout the flexibility and independence those workers have, while spending millions to prevent being required to provide benefits like unemployment insurance and health care.
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  • CATEGORY
  • New Lawyers
Smishing attacks and the human element
Mark Lanterman
May 31, 2022
The possibilities are endless when it comes to message content, but the goal of the scammer remains essentially the same—to get you to interact with their message, click a link, and/or provide personal information. But why has smishing in particular become so popular as of late?
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  • Technology
Taxes, professional debt, child support, and lawyer discipline
Susan Humiston
May 31, 2022
As I write this column, income taxes are due. Did you file on time? If not, did you request an extension of the date on which to file? If you’re also an employer, have you kept up with your quarterly employer withholding filing and payment obligations, both federal and state? If not, there may be professional responsibility issues to address in addition to issues raised by taxing authorities.
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  • Professional Responsibility
Better Together: Changes coming to our sections
May 31, 2022
When the MSBA, Hennepin County Bar, and Ramsey County Bar Associations combined staff teams in 2019, one of the goals was to identify and increase collaboration where it made sense, while maintaining strong identities and value propositions for each organization. After much consideration and conversation, the MSBA Council, HCBA Board, and RCBA Board each voted to approve a unified Sections model beginning with the 2022-2023 bar year.
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  • MSBA in Action
What's your walk-up song?
Jennifer Thompson
May 31, 2022
Some might recall that my first President’s Page started with a baseball metaphor—“ducks on the pond.” It was about feeling excitement for the work of the coming bar year. Now, as we head toward the bottom of the ninth, I want to end with one final nod to baseball: the walk-up song.
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  • President's Page
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 4th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
May 17, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
It’s Not Enough to be Smart: The Case for Emotional Intelligence
May 10, 2022
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  • practicelaw
Welcome, new lawyers!
May 09, 2022
The Minnesota Supreme Court and the MSBA welcomed new lawyers to the bar in multiple admission ceremonies held at the state Capitol on May 6, 2022.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 7th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
May 09, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates to Governor Tim Walz for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Maria Mitchell to fill 2nd Judicial District vacancy
May 05, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment of Maria Mitchell as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 3rd Judicial District
May 03, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s Third Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Elise Larson to Minnesota Court of Appeals
Apr 28, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Elise Larson to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 2nd Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Apr 26, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 5th Judicial District
Apr 26, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Kathryn Iverson Landrum to fill 1st Judicial District vacancy
Apr 19, 2022
Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Kathryn Iverson Landrum as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District.
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Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 1st Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Apr 11, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announcedthat it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s First Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Kevin Mueller to fill 10th Judicial District vacancy
Apr 04, 2022
Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Kevin Mueller as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District.
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Governor’s merit selection panel recommends Court of Appeals candidates
Apr 04, 2022
Governor Tim Walz’s judicial merit selection panel announced that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill the upcoming vacancy on Minnesota’s Court of Appeals.
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Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 4th Judicial District
Apr 01, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
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On square pegs and round holes: Understanding neurodiversity
Robert M. Schuneman
Apr 01, 2022
Haley Moss, an attorney and neurodiversity movement advocate, defines neurodiversity as an understanding that “we all have different brains. We all think differently, and no two people experience the world in the exact same way.”
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  • Diversity and Inclusion
Minnesota courts embrace technology to enhance access, convenience, and transparency
Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea
Apr 01, 2022
Court user-driven technologies remain a top priority for the courts and a driving force behind our work to continue modernizing how we operate.
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  • Courts
Contents under pressure
JENNIFER THOMPSON
Apr 01, 2022
The MSBA has taken a step to change how law is practiced and thereby to improve incrementally the well-being of our profession. It is on all of us to continue to look for meaningful ways to do so—the Supreme Court, after all, has called us all to action.
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  • President's Page
Private discipline in 2021
SUSAN HUMISTON
Apr 01, 2022
In 2021 the Director’s Office closed 88 complaints with admonitions—a form of private discipline issued for violations of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct that are viewed as isolated and nonserious.
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  • Professional Responsibility
Still on the defensive: More on the Missouri website vulnerability investigation
Mark Lanterman
Apr 01, 2022
At the time of this writing, the Missouri governor has refused to acknowledge, let alone apologize for, the error in his original statements or for his handling of the situation
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  • Technology
Some pro tips for the negotiating table
Austyn Boothe and Daniel Sheikhan
Apr 01, 2022
Throughout the nearly year-long Negotiation Competition cycle, we developed a variety of skills that helped us earn the title of world champions; the following skills have greatly informed our work and the way we navigate real-world legal situations.
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  • New Lawyers
If you could reach back in time to give some advice to your first-year-in-practice self, what would it be?
Apr 01, 2022
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  • Colleague Corner
2022 lawyer registration? We can help
Apr 01, 2022
The first wave of 2022 lawyer registration notifications has gone out. Lawyers are now beginning to see the changes made last year to Uniform Pro Bono Reporting.
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  • MSBA in Action
EJC in Minneapolis!
Apr 01, 2022
The American Bar Association and National Legal Aid & Defender Association Equal Justice Conference is coming to Minneapolis from May 12-14.
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  • MSBA in Action
Notes & Trends – April 2022
Apr 01, 2022
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Top 10 Tips for OCI
Nick Hansen
Mar 31, 2022
The New Lawyers Section organized a seminar for law students to help prepare for On Campus Interviews. Check out the top takeaways from the session.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Leah duCharme and Heidi Schultz to fill 7th Judicial District vacancies
Mar 23, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointments of Leah duCharme and Heidi Schultz as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 7th Judicial District
Mar 18, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
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  • Type Here...
  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 2nd Judicial District
Mar 15, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a vacancy in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
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  • Type Here...
  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Timothy Carey and Jacob Kraus to fill 2nd Judicial District vacancies
Mar 15, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan today announced the appointments of Timothy Carey and Jacob Kraus as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
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  • Type Here...
  • MSBA in Action
Walz, Flanagan seek applicants for a vacancy on the Commission on Judicial Selection
Mar 11, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced a vacancy on the Commission on Judicial Selection. The vacancy is for an at-large attorney member seat.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 7th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Mar 05, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • Type Here...
  • MSBA in Action
Minnesota cannabis law and the battle over hemp derivatives
JASON TARASEK
Mar 04, 2022
Here in Minnesota adult-use marijuana remains illegal and likely will remain illegal for the near future. Why? It’s complicated.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Legislation
Esquire this and Esq. that. Or: A stuffy, didactic trifle under 1,000 words
ADAM JOHNSON
Mar 04, 2022
In 2015, when I still had some green behind my ears—and not nearly the size of paunch that I now boast (the kind you can rest a Big Gulp on whilst second-chairing)—I wrote a short piece on the topic of the honorific title “esquire.” It appears that “esquire” is a kind of Hydra, capable of growth at treble rates.
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  • Practice Pointers
Revisiting Minnesota’s 60-Day Rule and building permit applications
Julie N. Nagorski
Mar 04, 2022
Most cities and most practitioners believe that while the 60-Day Rule requires government to take prompt action on applications of many sorts, it does not apply to building permit applications. This belief needs a re-examination.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Construction Law
What happens when property owners don’t pay their property taxes?
Melitta Drechsler
Mar 04, 2022
What happens to nonpayers of property taxes is a question many property owners—those with mortgages—have little reason to consider. Banks and mortgage companies often collect the money to pay for property taxes from mortgage payments and save that money in an escrow account.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Real Property
  • Tax Law
Bedrock rules: The law on non-commercial collection of rocks and fossils on public lands in Minnesota
KATHLEEN LI REITZ
Mar 04, 2022
Whether you are a professionally trained geoscientist or an amateur collector of these inorganic specimens, Minnesota has much to offer as long as you know where to look.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Land Use Law
Lawyers make great leaders. That includes you.
JENNIFER THOMPSON
Mar 04, 2022
Whether leader was part of your childhood nickname or leadership is an experience you are looking to explore for the first time, the MSBA welcomes and encourages you to explore a leadership role within the association.
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  • CATEGORY
  • President's Page
ABA Opinion 500 takes on language access in the client-lawyer relationship
SUSAN HUMISTON
Mar 04, 2022
Each year, the ABA Standing Committee publishes formal opinions interpreting the Model Rules; these opinions provide guidance to practitioners in interpreting the Model Rules and, by extension, the Minnesota Rules. In October 2021, the ABA issued Formal Opinion 500: Language Access in the Client-Lawyer Relationship.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Professional Responsibility
What we can already learn from the Cyber Safety Review Board
Mark Lanterman
Mar 04, 2022
In keeping with the 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security established the Cyber Safety Review Board last month.
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  • Technology
What’s your most useful legal technology tool —or tools, if you can’t pick just one—and why?
Mar 04, 2022
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  • Colleague Corner
Updates: Courts and Legislature
Mar 04, 2022
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  • Legislation
  • MSBA in Action
MSBF matching grant will boost legal aid
Mar 04, 2022
The MSBA is proud to announce that thanks to its members, we raised over $10,000 in our recent campaign for the Minnesota State Bar Foundation (MSBF). With the matching monies, that means that over $20,000 is headed to organizations around Minnesota.
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  • MSBA in Action
Notes & Trends – March 2022
Mar 04, 2022
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  • Notes & Trends
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 2nd Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Feb 28, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District.
Full story
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Amber Brennan and Keala Ede to fill 4th Judicial District vacancies
Feb 24, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced the appointments of Amber Brennan and Keala Ede as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 1st Judicial District
Feb 23, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s First Judicial District.
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  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz appoints Stacey Sorensen to fill 1st Judicial District vacancy
Feb 17, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Stacey Sorensen as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District.
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  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 4th Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Feb 15, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that it is recommending four candidates for consideration to fill two vacancies in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Commission on Judicial Selection recommends 1st Judicial District candidates to Gov. Walz
Feb 09, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced that it is recommending three candidates for consideration to fill a vacancy in Minnesota’s First Judicial District.
Full story
  • CATEGORY
  • MSBA in Action
Gov. Walz Appoints Thomas Christenson to Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals
Feb 08, 2022
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Thomas Christenson to serve as a Judge on Minnesota’s Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals.
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  • MSBA in Action
Let’s talk about some time-saving legal tech
TODD C. SCOTT
Feb 01, 2022
The pandemic brought a lot of lawyers into the world of legal technology. Here’s a set of recommendations for integrating more tech and freeing up more time in ’22.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Technology
A Marvel-ous Copyright War
Larina Alton and Gabriel Ramirez-Hernandez
Feb 01, 2022
Disney’s latest fight to protect its intellectual property interests is no Mickey Mouse effort.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Intellectual Property
After Britney: An FAQ on Minnesota guardianship/conservatorship law
DAVID L. LUDESCHER
Feb 01, 2022
My intent in this brief article is not to provide a detailed analysis of the Britney Spears case or of guardianship and conservatorship law in Minnesota. Rather, I wish to show how the protections afforded by “the system” can fail people in Minnesota as well.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Estate Planning
A lawyer’s guide to the Minnesota legislative process
By Anne Sexton
Feb 01, 2022
Being a competent attorney necessitates understanding key aspects of Minnesota laws and the state legislative process. Through a strictly nonpartisan lens, here are 10 concepts to help us on that front.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Legislation
What we’re working on
JENNIFER THOMPSON
Feb 01, 2022
As we cross the midway point in the 2021-2022 bar year, here’s an update on the MSBA’s policy work.
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  • CATEGORY
  • President's Page
Public discipline in 2021
SUSAN HUMISTON
Feb 01, 2022
The goal of public discipline is to protect the public, the legal profession, and the judicial system, and to deter further misconduct by the disciplined attorney and other attorneys.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Professional Responsibility
The Log4j vulnerability is rocking the cybersecurity world. Here’s why.
Mark Lanterman
Feb 01, 2022
Cybersecurity experts have been quick to acknowledge the immense danger this vulnerability poses for almost all organizations. There are many types of attacks that can be facilitated via this route, such as the installation of malware and ransomware attacks, making it an easy-to-use tool for cybercriminals.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Technology
To answer the phone or not to answer the phone? Notes on clients and boundaries
Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell
Feb 01, 2022
Although maintaining professional boundaries is crucial for our own well-being, I’d like to offer an additional reason you should do so which I hope is also compelling: Professional boundaries are also a vital component in serving our clients well.
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  • CATEGORY
  • New Lawyers
Judicial discretion the John Grisham way
Tom Vasaly
Feb 01, 2022
The lead character in The Judge’s List is Lacy Stoltz, the director of the fictional Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. In real life, Tom Vasaly held a similar position as the former executive secretary of the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Book Review
ABA Equal Justice Conference coming to Minnesota
Feb 01, 2022
The ABA’s Equal Justice Conference (EJC) is being held in Minnesota this year for the first time in over a decade. The EJC, which will convene in Minneapolis May 12-14, is the nation’s premier conference for legal services and pro bono issues.
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  • MSBA in Action
North Star Lawyer Certification Open
Feb 01, 2022
Did you complete 50 hours or more of pro bono work in 2021? Would you like to be recognized for your work and show your commitment to pro bono in our communities? If so, the MSBA’s North Star Lawyer program is open for certification.
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  • CATEGORY
  • Pro Bono
  • MSBA in Action
2022 Time’s Up is here
Feb 01, 2022
The 2022 Time’s Up Manual (formal title: A Manual of the Statutes of Limitations in Minnesota for Civil Litigators) was recently released by the MSBA Civil Litigation Section.
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Notes & Trends – Jan/Feb 2022
Feb 01, 2022
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Gov. Walz announces upcoming vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals
Feb 01, 2022
Gov. Tim Walz announced a vacancy on the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
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Gov. Walz appoints Christy Hormann to fill 3rd Judicial District vacancy
Jan 25, 2022
Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Christy Hormann as district court judge in Minnesota’s 3rd Judicial District.
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Minnesota Supreme Court Committee issues interim report on the Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project
Jan 24, 2022
At the end of December 2021, the Standing Committee for the Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project issued the Interim Report and Recommendations to the Minnesota Supreme Court required by the Order Implementing the Legal Paraprofessional Pilot Project.
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Letter to the editor: Leanne Fuith's "Is there a better way to admit lawyers?"
Jan 21, 2022
I was disheartened by Leanne Fuith’s article disparaging the validity of the bar exam. While some of her points such as adequately testing the ability for real life application and practice are important - that's not really something you can ever adequately test with any licensing exam whether it be law, nursing, medical, etc.
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Commission on Judicial Selection opens application process for vacancy in the 10th Judicial District
Jan 21, 2022
The Commission on Judicial Selection announced a new vacancy in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District.
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