The un-hip office

Last week I pointed out how flextime is fashionable. Now it's time to discuss something that is definitely not fashionable the Hip Office.



I'm not sure what this German company has been drinking, but hk-ergonomics is developing a device that tethers a laptop to your waist. I can't see how this is either safe or comfortable not to mention the dweeb-factor.

What's worse, an American company apparently finds this an attractive idea. Connect-A-Desk in Texas in working on a similar product, only the laptop is strapped to your shoulders.



Dodging distracted cell phone users in the skyway is bad enough. It's only a matter of time until someone is disemboweled by a MacBook Air.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

The AGO unionization flap: Can we talk?

We had a laugh yesterday afternoon at Minnesota Lawyers offices. When we put a poll on our main website asking voters whether we thought the attorneys at Minnesotas Attorney Generals office should be allowed to unionize, votes soon started trickling and then flooding in, as people on both sides of the issue frantically clicked the yes and no options. (The anti-union folks seem to have been much busier.)

The response demonstrated (take your pick) A) the passionate feelings this issue stirs; B) the silly lengths that some on both sides will go to in order to make their point.

Weve covered this story to some length, but a year after it first emerged, the basic facts remain the same: AFSCME wants to form a union in the AGs office, the AGO is digging in its heels, lots of lawyers (about one-third) have left the AGO, and morale in the office is bad and getting no better.

In the meantime, weve gotten numerous anonymous communications from pro-union folks (both on this blog and via e-mail) about the heavy-handed tactics that continue to be used against AGO employees, but little of substance around which to build a story that wouldnt be one-sided and full of unsubstantiated speculation.

At the same time, the AGO is as uncooperative with us as it is with other media outlets, refusing to return calls and failing to follow through on Data Practices Act requests. Lori Swanson and her loyalists seem all too happy to see this story go unreported, even if means pushing ethical boundaries. And current and former AGO employees who could potentially contribute to the story are either unwilling to speak for attribution or have a pro-union axe to grind.

That puts us and other outlets in a bind, because while there might still be a story to be told at the AGO, most of what weve heard is hearsay, and we cant use hearsay. We have all the Deep Throats we need on this one.

If there truly is more to be told, we hope a few people from both sides of this issue will drop their cloak of anonymity and let us know.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Honolulu jury awards $3M to city ex-official in whistleblower case.

A Circuit Court jury Friday awarded a former Honolulu city official more than $3 million dollars, upholding her claim that she lost her job in 2003 for blowing the whistle on what she saw as wrongdoing in the administration of the former Mayor.The jury deliberated a half-day before returning a verdict in favor of the [...]

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[Source: San Antonio & Austin Employment Lawyer Age Discrimination Sexual Harassment Unpaid Overtime Wrongful Termination Attorneys]

Is there a right to a jury-waived trial?

One of the more interesting debates going on in Minnesota Lawyer right now is if the state should have a say in whether or not a defendant gets a jury waived-trial. So far, we have published two letters on the issue from Minnesota State Public Defender John Stuart and one from Stearns County Attorney Janelle P. Kendall, the president-elect of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.

Depending upon how you want to frame the issue, the question is whether:
-- the defendant should have the right to a trial without a jury; or
-- the state should have a right to a trial with a jury.

Right now, defendants can waive juries in favor of having a judge decide their case without regard to how the prosecutor may feel about it. The MCAA recently announced that it plans to lobby for a law change requiring the prosecutor to sign off on such waivers, sparking the recent spate of letter writing.

It's an interesting issue -- and one that both defenders and prosecutors obviously feel very strongly about.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Labor Case Set for Oral Argument at Supreme Court

Chamber of Commerce v. Brown has been set for argument by the Supreme Court for March 19th. The Court is set to decide whether the National Labor Relations Act preempts a California law barring private employers from using state grant or program funds to influence union organizing campaigns.You can find the case briefing here. [...]

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[Source: San Antonio & Austin Employment Lawyer Age Discrimination Sexual Harassment Unpaid Overtime Wrongful Termination Attorneys]

Minnesota AG's Office; Where's the coverage?

We received an interesting comment to the post directly below, "Billable hours are sooo 2007." (Believe it or not, I do read all your comments!)

This particular comment has nothing to do with the post to which it is attached, so I thought I'd pull it out and place it here in its own post so folks concerned with the topic would have the opportunity to get a look at it.

I do, naturally, have some thoughts on the topic the commenter asks about, but first wanted to open it up to see if anyone else had any input on this subject before I formulate a response. So, without further ado, here is the comment. Add anything you like, and I promise to address the substance of this sometime after the weekend.

I'm disappointed in Minnesota Lawyer's recent lack of coverage of the ongoing story of attempts to organize a union at the AG's office and AG Swanson's ham-handed efforts to undermine that effort (the Keystone Cops would have done a better job a union-busting). Minnesota Lawyer's blog help make the story public earlier and exposed the questionable decision to keep Mike Hatch on board. Now Minn Lawyer appears to have forgotten to do any follow up coverage. It was big deal when there was unrest in the US Attorney's Office but somehow the departure of 1/3 of the line attorneys at the AG's office in the past year and ongoing unionization efforts doesn't make for a story of public interest? C'mon. Where's the journalism?

While you are waiting for my insightful reply, I suggest you check out the piece Steve Perry wrote last week for his blog, the Daily Mole. ("It's cat-and-mouse in the AG's Office as staffers try to unionize.")

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Lawyer: Needle Swap Activists Being 'Persecuted' (KSAT San Antonio)

SAN ANTONIO -- Three community activists are being persecuted by the Bexar County District Attorneys Office, said a lawyer representing the trio.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

PNP making reporter scapegoat for Faeldon escapelawyer (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines -- The lawyer of Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon on Wednesday accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of making reporter Dana Batnag a scapegoat for security forces' failure to secure the Manila Peninsula hotel at the height of the November 29 standoff.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Christian Brando in hospital with pneumonia, but lawyer says hes expected to be OK (The Daily American)

LOS ANGELES Christian Brando has been hospitalized with pneumonia, his lawyer said Monday.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer urges state to charge security chiefs or let them go (The Daily Star Lebannon)

Lawyer Akram Azouri said on Wednesday that the detention of four security chiefs after the February 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was "arbitrary," and called on the Lebanese authorities to take steps to resolve the issue. "Media reports covering the detention of generals Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, Raymond Azar and Mustafa Hamdan.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

White House Renews Battle Over Lawyer Who Signed Interrogation Memos (New York Times)

The White House renominated the Justice Department lawyer who wrote a series of classified legal opinions in 2005 authorizing harsh C.I.A. interrogation techniques.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Local Lawyer Allegedly Leaves Murder Client to Fend For Himself (KLAS Las Vegas)

A southern Nevada lawyer is in hot water after missing the first day of his client's murder trial. Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt blamed attorney Glen Lerner for wasting the time of 50 potential jurors in the trial of 41-year-old Mario Lino.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

'Taxi rape' victims were prostitutes: lawyer (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The lawyer for a taxi driver linked to three alleged rapes by DNA technology has told a Sydney court two of the alleged victims were prostitutes.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer incurs wrath of Nevada judge for missing client's trial (KSBY San Luis Obispo)

Associated Press - January 23, 2008 3:34 PM ET LAS VEGAS (AP) - A lawyer who advertises heavily in southern Nevada is facing a judge's wrath after missing the first day of his client's murder...

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Many law students show to help foreclosed upon homeowners

The University of St. Thomas School of Law last night hosted a training session for individuals interested in helping homeowners whose properties are being foreclosed upon. (Click here for Minnesota Lawyer article.) An overflow crowd of mostly law students poured into a room that accommodates 105 for the three-hour session. (UST Prof. Hank Shea said that 120 people signed up for the event. From the look of things -- they all showed up.)

It was good to see many lawyers-to-be so eager to get active and help out those affected by the mortgage crisis. And the students were not just from UST. I ran into several students who had made the trek from William Mitchell and Hamline.

It's a cliche, but the worst of times often bring out the best in people. This pro bono effort also represents a side of the profession that the public doesn't always get to see, which is unfortunate.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Lawyer incurs wrath of Nevada judge for missing client's trial (KESQ Palm Springs)

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A lawyer who advertises heavily in southern Nevada is facing a judge's wrath after missing the first day of his client's murder trial.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer says man killed pit bulls in self-defense (Boston Herald)

BARNSTABLE - A jury on Cape Cod is deliberating the case of a man charged with animal cruelty in the fatal shootings of two pit bulls. A lawyer for Keith Kynock said the...

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Who better to debate than lawyers?

I was watching some of the Democratic presidential debate last when I heard Hillary Clinton take John Edwards to task for receiving lots of donations from (gasp!) trial lawyers. It was then that it occurred to me that all three of the Democratic candidates debating were lawyers. Clinton practiced at the Rose firm in Arkansas. Edwards was a North Carolina trial attorney who obtained a number of big verdicts and settlements for his clients, most notably $25M for a three-year-old who was disemboweled by the suction of a pool drain. Barack Obama was a lawyer in Chicago, where he represented community organizers and handled voting-rights cases. He became a constitutional law lecturer at the University of Chicago and a state senator.

Two out of the three went to Ivy League law schools -- Clinton (Yale) and Obama (Harvard). Edwards went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In any event, it was a spirited debate. Since it's a political topic, I won't weigh in too deeply. It's just as well, anyway. I kept flicking between the debate and "The Lobotomist" -- the PBS "American Experience" airing that night on the father of the lobotomy operation. I don't know if public television purposely ran something about lobotomies during a presidential debate -- but the irony was not lost on me.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Adventures in Questionable HR Management

Yes friends, it’s time once again to issue our Questionable HR Management Award Grand Prize. As you know we periodically hand out this prestigious award to a company that has shown particularly bad HR judgment and a complete lack of common sense. Today the award goes to Packaging Corporation of America in Counce, [...]

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[Source: San Antonio & Austin Employment Lawyer Age Discrimination Sexual Harassment Unpaid Overtime Wrongful Termination Attorneys]

When representing a defendant in Pelican Rapids, don't phone it in!

There was a very interesting case out of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday -- Sherbrooke v. City of Pelican Rapids.

The federal appellate court turned back a civil-rights claim against the city and its police department over an arrest that sprang from a traffic stop that the motorist argued was invalid. The motorist had pulled to the side of the road and made a cell phone call from his car. When he re-entered the roadway, he kept his hazards on until he reached 55 miles an hour. A police officer, apparently cruising for drunk drivers, saw him driving with his hazards flashing and stopped him. The officer wound up arresting the motorist. Although police eventually let the motorist go without any charges, they recorded the call that he made to his lawyer while he was at the station. The motorist sued, alleging his state statutory and constitutional rights had been violated by the stop, arrest and recording.

A U.S. District Court judge allowed the motorist's sec. 1983 suit to proceed, finding both the stop and the recording of the attorney-client conversation provided grounds for the lawsuit. The 8th Circuit disagreed on both counts, concluding that the stop was reasonable and that the motorist's rights were not violated by the recording. The call was made in a public place in the station and knew that police might be listening, the court reasoned.

The idea that police may be recording their conversations with clients is sure to rile criminal defense lawyers -- particularly those used to taking late night calls from DWI clients asking for advice. However, the three-judge panel was unanimous in that part of its decision.

The case did generate a dissent on the former issue however. Judge Arlen Beam was not happy with the idea of police having the ability to stop someone who had just gotten back on the road and had not yet shut his hazard lights off. Beam viewed the motorist as just being cautious and having done nothing meriting being pulled over. He accused the majority of turning state law "on its head" and of taking a position that "defies common sense."

While such pointed attacks are relatively rare in a dissent, rarer still is it when the majority responds by lobbing a shot back. Responding to Beam's criticism of his decision, Judge Steven M. Colloton wrote:

"We think the alternative interpretation of the statute apparently endorsed by the partial dissenting opinion -- that highway drivers may use flashing lights whenever accelerating from reasonable and prudent speeds below the maximum (say, 50 to 54 miles per hour) up to the speed limit of 55 miles per hour -- more nearly 'defies common sense' than does ours.

In other words, "I'm rubber and you're glue, your words bounce off me and stick to you."

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Always look at the bright side of life

Local attorney Kathleen Flynn Peterson garnered a mention on DC Dicta, the national blog of our sister publication, Lawyer USA. Peterson, as president of the American Association for Justice, provides a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Stoneridge decision. (See "U.S. Supreme Court turns back 10(b) action" on this blog.)

Believe it or not, the AAJ reports being "encouraged" by the decision -- primarily because of its narrowness. Just goes to show, no matter how bad you think things are, they could be worse. In any event, click here for more from DC Dicta.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Litigating for 'Peanuts?'

I just got around to reading "Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography" by David Michaelis. I would highly recommend this meticulously researched view of Charles Schulz, the genius of the funny pages who, as our readers well know, hailed from right here in Minnesota.

There aren't a lot of lawyers in the book. There is reference to his highly public divorce (It won't be for "Peanuts," one radio commentator quipped at the time.) And, of course, there is a lot of copyright law floating in the background -- though no juicy IP disputes mentioned in the book. ("Rats!" as Charlie Brown would say.)

I suspect if a Schulz clone started something similar today it would spawn plenty of work for lawyers -- particularly given that Schulz based the names and characteristics of many of the characters on real people he knew. You'd probably have to add to each strip one of those lengthy disclaimers stating any resemblance to any real people is strictly coincidental -- completely ruining the comic flow. ("Good grief!")

In any event, I was trying to figure out which "Peanuts" character was the most likely to grow up to be a lawyer. I would have to give it to Lucy -- assuming that whole psychiatry thing doesn't work out for her. With the speed with which she charges Charlie Brown a nickle for her advice, she definitely has the concept of the billable hour down pat.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Blogs, dogs, Beatles and the law

There is a quirky (relatively new) blog in cyberspace called "Who Am Us Anyway?" that purports to pertain to music and dogs. Among the "mandatory chords" listed on the blog for the musically inclined are: the Clash, the Dead, Bob Dylan, the Kinks, the Ramones and the Stones.

Why do I mention the blog here? It happens to be run by a local lawyer. I did get a kick out of his post describing his pilgrimage in New York to honor some Beatles memories. And, oh yes, true to his word, the author also squeezes a dog into the story.

You'll have to excuse me if I don't have a good wrap up for this one, but it's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a .... well, you know ...

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Letting federal judges do what we pay them to do -- Think!

Minnesota Lawyer published an article this week on how the recent loosening of some of the shackles placed on judges by the federal sentencing guidelines might impact things here in Minnesota. (See "Local federal judges now have more breathing room in sentencing.")

Minnesota has long been at the epicenter of a struggle over how much authority the federal judiciary should have in imposing sentences. Who can forget the constitutional crisis occasioned five years ago when a congressional committee attempted to delve in to the sentencing practices of local U.S. District Court Judge James Rosenbaum? The committee attempted to subpoena the records of cases in which Rosenbaum issued downward departures after Rosenbaum voluntarily testified before the committee advocating greater sentencing discretion for judges. (Click here for more background on this dispute.) The Inquisition-like tactic ignited a firestorm of controversy. The separation-of-powers doctrine was explicitly created to prevent such ham-handed attempts by one branch of government to intrude on the prerogatives of another.

As the Minnesota Lawyer article points out, the U.S. Supreme Court has been moving in the direction of giving judges more discretion to deviate (both upward and downward) from the sentences contained in the guidelines. The high court last month went as far as to strike down caselaw in the 8th Circuit making it extremely difficult for judges to deviate.

To me, it's just common sense to give judges meaningful sentencing discretion. The sentence an offender deserves is highly fact specific. While I think both judges and society in general benefit from guidance to make sure there is some overall consistency, that "guidance" should not handcuff judges by becoming virtually unbreakable rules. There will be cases when a harsher penalty is called for -- and cases where a more lenient sentence is called for. Judges should not have to jump through extraordinary hoops to deviate from the guidelines. We appoint our best legal minds to the federal bench, so why not let them actually use those minds? If we are not going to give judges any real discretion, we might as well develop a software program to impose sentences -- it would be a lot cheaper. But I, for one, would rather have a human being make those decisions after hearing all the facts. It's good to know that the U.S. Supreme Court apparently agrees with me.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Legal rules of thumb

Tom Parker of Make Magazine recently launched an online version of his brilliant Rules of Thumb book.

Naturally, there's a section on lawyers here's a few handy gems I found:

WINNING A CASE
When you don't have much of a case, argue the law.

WINNING AN APPEAL
If you're defending the judgment of the trial court, it is good strategy to make the proceedings and judgment seem boring and obvious.

PREDICTING THE VERDICT
The sooner a jury returns with a verdict, the more likely it decided for the defense.

SPOTTING A DEFENSE LAWYER
The more luxurious the law office, the more likely it serves defendants rather than plaintiffs.

Thoughts?

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Attorneys seeking Medtronic plaintiffs turn up the heat

Since Fridley-based Medtronic recalled its defective Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads in October, the company has been bracing for a wave of litigation. It already lost one battle in that arena when a Toronto court ruled that patients in Canada who had the leads installed could join a class action against the company.

Now, though no similar class has been established in the United States, numerous law firms are aggressively pursuing potential plaintiffs in lawsuits against Medtronic. Several have set up websites wooing potential clients, and Houston, Tex.-based firm Pulaski & Middleman has even brought its campaign into Medtronics back yard.

Pulaski has begun running TV commercials locally that make seductive statements (although not promises, of course) about what patients with Sprint Fidelis leads stand to gain if they have the firm in their corner. The commercials are loud and persistent, flashing the firms phone number repeatedly on the screen and all but screaming the phrase free money at viewers. Attorneys who prefer to practice in quiet dignity are excused for cringing when these ads come on.

Medtronic argued last month before the U.S. Supreme Court that it should be shielded against state product liability lawsuits, arguing that since the FDA approved its medical devices, that should pre-empt patients from bringing suit. Experts believe the decision could be crucial for patients-rights cases in the future.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

High court hears interesting death-penalty case

The Lawyers USA blog (Dicta) has an interesting piece today previewing the oral arguments on an interesting death-penalty case that the U.S. Supreme Court was scheduled to hear today.

The case calls into question Kentucky's use of lethal injection, with defense lawyers claiming it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The defense lawyers are making the argument that because the drugs used paralyze the person being being executed, he or she cannot indicate whether he or she is suffering excessive pain. Click here for more.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

McNamee lawyer: No lawsuit forthcoming (Sports Illustrated)

Perhaps no one was watching Mike Wallace's interview of Roger Clemens on 60 Minutes on Sunday night more intently than Richard Emery, the attorney for Brian McNamee. McNamee is the personal trainer who told former senator George Mitchell and federal investigators that he had injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Teens arrested in connection with attack on Shaker Heights lawyer (WKYC Cleveland)

SHAKER HEIGHTS -- Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the beating of a lawyer from Shaker Heights.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Haneef fears being locked up: lawyer (Nyngan Observer)

Former terror suspect Mohamed Haneef fears he could be jailed again if he returns to Australia, says his lawyer Peter Russo. Dr Haneef held a press conference in India over the weekend during which he said he hoped the new Rudd government would consider the question of compensating him.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Jindal Picks Lawyer from AGs Office as New Inspector General (KALB Alexandria)

Governor-elect Bobby Jindal picked a lawyer in the state attorney general's office as Louisiana's new inspector general, a position intended to investigate executive branch fraud and waste. more

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

I'm a sacrificial lamb, bleats lawyer (Daily Telegraph)

THE lawyer criticised for not asking for custodial prison sentences for nine males who raped a 10-year-old says he is "a sacrificial lamb".

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

LAWYER: I'LL REP BRIT FOR FREE (New York Post)

HEY, Britney - there's someone who still wants to rep you! Divorce lawyer and former "The Apprentice" contestant Stacy Schneider told Page Six she's willing to take over as Britney Spears' legal counsel - free of charge. Spears' current lawyers at...

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer is 325-0 in implant appeals (Contra Costa Times)

Sheri Byrne-Haber has a winning streak any lawyer would envy. Since she launched a program in 2004 challenging health insurers' denials of a device that allows the deaf to hear, the East Palo Alto-based attorney has won every one of the 325 cases now completed.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer says Swain may waive extradition (The Providence Journal)

David Swain, now criminally charged with killing his wife during a 1999 scuba diving trip to Tortola, is considering waiving extradition, his lawyer says, which could have the Jamestown scuba shop owner returning soon to the British Virgin Islands to face trial.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Lawyer: Detained Chinese activist can't get legal help because case involves state secrets (AP via Yahoo! Malaysia News)

Chinese authorities have barred attorneys from visiting an AIDS activist detained on a subversion charge and have placed his wife under house arrest, his lawyer said Monday.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Haneef waiting for inquiry date to be fixed: Lawyer (NDTV)

Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was wrongly accused of involvement in the failed UK car bombings, is still waiting for a date to be fixed for a judicial inquiry into his case before deciding whether to return to Australia, according to his lawyer Peter Russo.

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[Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for lawyer]

Bushs NLRB Legacy

Ross Runkle over at Ross’ Employment Law Blog has begun an excellent series on President Bush’s NLRB Legacy. In part 1 he addressed the Bush Board’s elimination of Weingarten rights for non-union employees. Part 2 address restrictions on employee use of employer’s email for union solicitation. You can follow the series here.

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[Source: San Antonio & Austin Employment Lawyer Age Discrimination Sexual Harassment Unpaid Overtime Wrongful Termination Attorneys]

Lavender Bar to hold regional conference

The Minnesota Lavender Bar Association is holding its Regional Lavender Law conference on Jan. 26 at William Mitchell College of Law.

The all-day conference has been held annually since the early 1990s, and has grown substantially over the years. Its hoped that this years conference will draw between 75 and 100 attendees.

In 2004, the National Lavender Law conference was held in Minneapolis. MLBA board member Phil Duran said that since that time, the MLBA has endeavored to include a national speaker at each regional conference. This year that is Amber Hollibaugh, senior strategist of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, who will give the opening plenary on GLBT Aging and Public Policy.

Other topics to be examined at the conference include advocating for transgender clients, marketing your practice to the GLBT community, medical disability planning and asset protection of same-sex couples, and community reactions to the Larry Craig debacle.

The complexity of the program has grown, said Duran. Were excited. Weve got a record number of sponsors this year.

The impressive list of sponsors includes the Minnesota AIDS Project, Thomson West, the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, OutFront Minnesota, William Mitchell College of Law and the law firms of Lindquist & Vennum, Faegre & Benson, Dorsey & Whitney and Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand.

MLBA members, as well as others interested in GLBT issues, are invited to attend. For more information on the event, go to www.mnlavbar.com.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

AP: Magill to serve as interim U.S. attorney in Minnesota

The Associated Press is reporting that First Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Magill has been chosen to serve as interim U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Rachel Paulose announced her resignation from from the U.S. attorney's post last November to take a job with main Justice in Washington, D.C.

Magill strikes me as particularly good choice. He is experienced, respected and somehow managed to stay above the fray during all the upheaval in the office.

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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

Happy New Year!

The Minnesota Lawyer blog staff would like to thank each and every one of our readers for visting us in 2007. We wish you all a happy and safe New Year!


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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]