Case Law Updates

23
Nov

Confessions Must Be Corroborated By Independent Evidence To Prove the Crime

Case Law Updates, Constitutional Rights
The Minnesota Supreme Court just issued a ruling (State v. Holl, A19-1464) relating to the corpus delicti rule of law, in which a confession to a crime must be accompanied by some other evidence to result in a conviction. The idea is that criminal co…
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7
Jan

Minnesota's Revenge Porn Law Upheld by Supreme Court

Case Law Updates, Constitutional Rights, Felonies, Sex Crimes/Child Pornography Crimes
A little more than a year ago, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a significant ruling when it found that Minnesota’s revenge porn law (more formally known as nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images) was unconstitutionally overb…
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27
Jul

Failing to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle Ticket - Minnesota

Case Law Updates, Loss of License, Traffic Violation
In the hierarchy of traffic tickets, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle is one of the more serious offenses. Most of the time, it’s a simple petty misdemeanor offense (which is not considered a crime under Minnesota law). But, sometimes,…
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15
Apr

DWI Aggravating Factors - Supreme Court Clarification

Case Law Updates, DWI
The severity of a DWI in Minnesota depends on the number of aggravating factors, if any. If there are none, the DWI is a misdemeanor offense, with no statutory sentencing requirements. If one or more DWI aggravating factors are present, the DWI can b…
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11
Mar

Minnesota's Revenge Porn Law Ruled Unconstitutional

Case Law Updates, Felonies, Gross Misdemeanors / Misdemeanors, Sex Crimes/Child Pornography Crimes
UPDATE: The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed this decision and upheld the statute as being constitutional. Read our latest blog on the Supreme Court’s decision here. In December 2019, the Court of Appeals struck down Minnesota’s revenge p…
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14
Feb

Lying to Police is not Obstruction of Legal Process in Minnesota

Case Law Updates, Gross Misdemeanors / Misdemeanors
Obstruction of legal process in Minnesota is a very serious charge, but it also can be overcharged by cops that are inpatient or simply out to get a defendant. One way in which we have seen it overcharged is when a defendant is not cooperating or lyi…
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21
Jul

Restitution in Minnesota - Direct Causation Required

Case Law Updates
Over the past few decades, the criminal justice system has endured a massive change in its treatment of alleged crime victims and offenders. Those accused of committing crimes have been subject to increasingly punitive outcomes, both in law and publi…
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20
Mar

Flipping the Bird to Cops - Not a Basis for the Cop to Stop You (Federal Court Decision)

Case Law Updates, Constitutional Rights
Let’s be honest. How many times have we wanted to flip the bird to a cop after pulling us over for a mundane traffic violation? Countless? Maybe just a couple? Either way, it’s probably crossed our minds when we think the minor infraction…
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28
Jun

SCOTUS Opinion - Warrant Required to Get Cell Phone Tower Records

Case Law Updates, Constitutional Rights
In a surprising decision in Carpenter v. U.S., the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that law enforcement must have a warrant in order to seek historical cell phone tower records that can accurately identify the location of a person b…
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1
Mar

Carrying While Under the Influence

Case Law Updates, Criminal Charges, Gross Misdemeanors / Misdemeanors, Gun Rights
In Minnesota, it is illegal to be carrying while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. The offense can be either a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, requiring possible jail and/or a heavy fine, not to mention revocation of the pers…
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