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Police cars on the road at nighttime

How Do I Know if I Have a Warrant Out for My Arrest?

Criminal Law

The uncertainty of not knowing whether you have a warrant out for your arrest can be detrimental to your everyday life. Often, if someone has an active warrant, it is a result of a missed court appearance, so there is some certainty in knowing if you are wanted by law enforcement. However, that is not

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Juvenile Justice: Understanding The Process When Your Child Is Arrested

Juvenile Justice: Understanding The Process When Your Child Is Arrested

Criminal Law

As a parent, one of the worst scenarios is receiving a call from the police informing you that your child has been arrested. It is often an overwhelming situation that is even more complicated by a lack of familiarity with the juvenile court process. While there are some similarities between juvenile court and adult criminal

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Scales and gavel

Potter Trial Update: Kim Potter Testifies in Her Own Defense

Criminal Law

On Friday, December 17, 2021, Kim Potter took the witness stand to give her account of what took place on April 11, 2021, the day Daunte Wright was shot and killed while attempting to flee from a traffic stop initiated by Ms. Potter. During her tear-filled recitation, Ms. Potter recalled seeing a fellow officer struggling

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Police talking to car driver

Understanding Your Rights As a Passenger During a Traffic Stop

Traffic

On September 20, 2021, the Minnesota Court of Appeals passed down its ruling on the case of State v. Robison. A case in which the passenger—Robinson—was successful in suppressing evidence discovered after officers removed both the driver and Robison during a routine traffic stop for speeding and began ransacking the vehicle without appropriate justification. The

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Person in handcuffs

Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty in Federal Court: What This Means

Criminal Law

On December 15, 2021, Derek Chauvin, the ex-officer convicted of 2nd-degree unintentional murder stemming from the death of George Floyd, pled guilty in federal court to two counts of violating the constitutional rights of citizens to be free from unreasonable force by a police officer. This guilty plea was an amendment to his original plea

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Brown wooden gavel on a table

Jury Stipulations in the Case Against Kim Potter

Criminal Law

On April 11, 2021 Daunte Wright was subjected to a traffic stop due to expired registration and air fresheners hanging off the rearview mirror. Officers soon learned that Mr. Wright had a warrant out for his arrest, had him exit his vehicle, and attempted to take him into custody. A skirmish ensued, where Mr. Wright

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Police car lights

Can Police Search You and Around Your House Without a Warrant?

Criminal Law

When looking into a suspected criminal offense, police officers focus heavily on gathering enough evidence to convict the potential criminal of a crime. It is required by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution that police officers either have a search warrant or subsequent permission to search a piece of property. More often than

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Police officer at a traffic stop writing a traffic ticket

10 Things to Keep in Mind When Being Pulled Over for a Traffic Stop in Minnesota

Criminal Law

Here is a real scenario: You see the flashing lights in your rearview mirror, and the police officer is not passing you. Your stomach tightens. You may feel anxious, nervous, or even angry. That is only natural; most of us have been there. A traffic ticket can be much more than an annoying inconvenience. It

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Different types of drugs spread out on a table

Illicit Drug Sales in Minnesota

Criminal Law

The use of illicit drugs has been rapidly growing in the state of Minnesota over the past decade. In one year alone, illicit drug overdoses were up almost 28% in the Minneapolis area (from ’19 to ’20). This is an alarming number that must be monitored in the next few years. All illicit drugs come

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Derek Chauvin Case Update: First Appearance in U.S. District Court

Derek Chauvin Case Update: First Appearance in U.S. District Court

Criminal Law

After being found guilty on all charges for the murder of George Floyd in the state of Minnesota, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin made his first appearance in U.S. District Court. Chauvin appeared over a virtual call from Minnesota’s maximum security prison in Oak Park Heights wearing an orange jumpsuit. After being convicted for

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