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What Weeks means for fair cross-section claims in Minnesota
At first glance, the Minnesota Supreme Court’s October 15, 2025, remand in State v. Weeks—a case involving the Sixth Amendment right to a jury drawn from a fair cross section of the community—is not unusual. The Court remanded Weeks to the Dakota County district court for an evidentiary hearing on a post-conviction relief petition that the district court had summarily denied. Weeks’s petition alleged a violation of his constitutional right to a jury drawn from a fair cross-section of the community. By Maggie Langert
For Minnesota employers, and the lawyers who advise them, the start of 2026 marked one of the most consequential shifts in the state’s employment law landscape in decades. Two significant changes took effect at the same time: the launch of Minnesota’s mandatory Paid Family and Medical Leave program and sweeping amendments to the state’s meal and rest break requirements. By James Kremer
Civil practice in Greater Minnesota is sometimes viewed as a maze of regional variations, shaped by smaller courthouses, fewer judges, and longer distances. But those same characteristics have required Greater Minnesota courts to adapt early to pressures that have since become familiar statewide: remote proceedings, constrained resources, and the need for lawyers to work collaboratively to keep cases moving. By Kyle R. Kroll and Judge Mary Mahler
Resurrecting suits and ties from the tumult of the covid era
Look, I am not some stuffed-shirt elitist or snob. My own suits are off the rack to a collar, and I have scuffs all over my shoes that I mask with Sharpie. But at least they’re brogues. And at least I feign to give a damn. By Adam T. Johnson
Professional Responsibility
Annually this column recaps the prior year’s public discipline matters. As the Minnesota Supreme Court often notes, the purpose of public discipline is not to punish the lawyer but rather to protect the public and the judicial system, and to deter future misconduct, both individually by the impacted lawyer and generally among the profession. By Susan Humiston
Wellness
When I decided to forgo reality and leaned into fantasy, my workouts went from a chore to empowering. And my fantasy workout comes with all the same real-world consequences: improved mood, stronger muscles, less pain sitting at my desk all day, more energy, and a more balanced appetite. By Jacquelyn S. Lutz
Colleague Corner
MSBA in Action
Attorneys seeking to support immigrants and others affected by ICE and Operation Metro Surge can access resources and view volunteer opportunities at mnbars.org/volunteer-now. Made in collaboration with civil legal aid organizations, the bar’s Community Support Resources Page outlines opportunities to assist with immigration-related matters, as well as unmet needs in family and housing law. Members can also view the latest amicus briefs and statements from the news page.
Notes & Trends
Landmarks in the Law
Tracking new developments in Minnesota and federal case law, administrative law, and legislation across multiple practice areas.
