January 24, 2001 - MPR's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on that Minnesota's judiciary fared better than many other departments in Governor Jesse Ventura's budget plan. Still, the Governor's budget doesn't fully fund the state court system's major initiative for this legislative session, known as Crimnet. It is an integrated computer system that would allow law enforcement and courts from different jurisdictions to easily share information on criminals.
December 26, 2000 - Now that Governor Jesse Ventura has thrown his support behind a plan to upgrade county criminal justice computer systems in Minnesota, chances are good the system known as "crimnet" should have an easier time getting through the legislature, at least for now. The project is estimated to cost about a quarter of a billion dollars. Legislators plan to ask for 41.5-million dollars for the project during this next biennium. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
December 18, 2000 - A Minnesota State Bar study finds the number of women attorneys in Twin Cities law firms is growing. But women still lag far behind their male counterparts in positions of power. Those findings are similar to a recent national study of the nation's 250 largest law firms. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
November 23, 2000 - St Paul native Warren Burger, the 20th-century's longest-tenured U-S Supreme Court Chief Justice once said he could not have gone to law school if it wasn't for the night classes at William Mitchell. Burger was among those who took advantage of the law school's friendly stance toward untraditional students. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports on the school's legacy as it celebrates its 100th anniversary today (Thursday).
November 14, 2000 - Friends of former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender William McGee are remembering him as a man who championed the underdog, was cool under fire and never gave into vindictiveness. McGee died last night from lung cancer. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
November 13, 2000 - MPR’s Elizabeth Stawicki reports on Native American convention held in St. Paul, where concerns of the new incoming U.S. presidential administration were expressed.
October 30, 2000 - The State Attorney General's office has filed suit against two east-coast companies for selling so-called protection against credit card fraud. The companies, through telemarketers allegedly misrepresented themselves as employees from Visa and MasterCard's fraud division and told consumers that unless they bought "protection", they'd be liable for the full amount of any unauthorized charges on lost or stolen credit cards. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports:
October 26, 2000 - It's an often cited complaint: voters say they don't know anything about the candidates running for Minnesota Supreme Court even though it's one of the most powerful positions in the state. Four supreme court seats are up this election. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki has this overview of the two candidates, the race between Justice James Gilbert and challenger Greg Wersal.
October 10, 2000 - Some entrepreneurs and investors who got in on the ground floor of dot-com initial public offerings or IPOs last year rocketed to serious wealth virtually overnight. Another group that's benefitted from the booming New Economy is the attorneys who advised the IPOs, not for the typical fees but for company stock. Some law firms made millions. But a number of critics argue these firms are also risking conflicts of interest. And as Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, lawyers could end up defending *themselves* in court now that high tech stocks are cooling off.
October 3, 2000 - The Minnesota Attorney General's office is suing its former partner in the tobacco lawsuit. Attorney General Mike Hatch has filed suit against Blue Cross Blue Shield for failing to provide doctor-recommended mental health care treatment for children and young adults. As Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports, the suit alleges Blue Cross Blue Shield delayed or denied coverage and then instructed parents to seek help in juvenile court or through foster care.