Minnesota Judicial Training & Education Blog

The Minnesota Judicial Training & Education Blog, published by Judge Pendleton, offers practical training updates primarily focused on criminal and family law, evidence and procedure, and trial advocacy. It provides guidance on key legal topics such as warrantless arrests and detention timing rules, prosecutorial misconduct categories, hearsay analysis, and family law motion practice. The blog also addresses legal writing improvement and the importance of work-life balance for legal professionals. Its content is designed to support judges, attorneys, and legal staff in understanding and applying Minnesota law effectively, with an emphasis on constitutional safeguards, courtroom strategies, and ethical considerations.

Dear Colleagues:

Minnesota has enacted a significant overhaul of its firearm-surrender procedures. The new legislation, contained in Chapter 75, is long and complex—26 pages and more than 11,500 words—and is designed to establish a uniform statewide procedure for the surrender,…

Dear Colleagues,

The Minnesota Supreme Court’s recent decision in State v. Steichen significantly clarifies the record that must be made before a district court may accept a Norgaard plea of guilty.

Our newest Minnesota Judicial Training Update explains the decision…

Dear Colleagues,

Search warrants are among the most common judicial acts in criminal law, but they are also among the easiest places for small mistakes to create significant constitutional problems.

This week’s Minnesota Judicial Training Update reviews ten search-warrant questions…

Dear Colleagues:

Your client loses a critical pretrial motion. The ruling may determine the outcome of the entire case. Must the defendant go through a full trial before appealing—or is there a better way?

Minnesota has a streamlined procedure that…

SUBJECT: Training Update: The 12-Month Probationary Jail Urban Myth.

Dear Colleagues:

An urban myth has developed in Minnesota criminal practice regarding the amount of local jail time a district court may impose while a defendant is on probation.

The common…

Dear Colleagues,

In the fast-paced practice areas of criminal law, family law, judicial procedure, and trial advocacy, staying current on new legal developments and effective courtroom strategy is essential. Since January 2026, seven training updates have been distributed addressing significant…

SUBJECT: Judicial Best Practice for Finalizing Divorce Agreements.

Dear Colleagues,

When parties appear in court to place a final divorce agreement on the record, Minnesota law does not require a formal on-the-record inquiry in every case. However, as a practical…

Subject: A 10-Minute Update That May Change How You View Strangulation Cases

Dear Colleagues,

Strangulation cases are among the most dangerous—and most frequently misunderstood—cases that come before our courts.

What makes these cases particularly challenging is this: they often present…

Dear Colleagues,

Let me start with a simple question: What is the one sentence a judge should never say at sentencing or a probation hearing?

If you’ve spent any time in a courtroom, you’ve probably heard some version of it—and…

State v. Lorsung, A24-0540, (Minn. Feb. 4, 2026)

Subject: New Training Update: State v. Lorsung — “Reasonable Suspicion” After the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Latest DWI Decision.

Dear Colleagues,

Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an important decision in State…