On July 19, 2018, Chief Judge Kathleen Sanberg presented the 2018 Raeder Larson Public Service Award to MNAPABA member Karl Johnson.

Congratulations, Karl! 

"MNAPABA joins with other Minnesota affinity bar associations and NAPABA in opposing the separation of families crossing our borders. Please see our statement below. MNAPABA joins the call to quickly reunite families."

Melitta Dreschler
2017-18 MNAPABA President

Statement Regarding Zero-Tolerance 

Immigration Policy

The Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA), Minnesota Lavender Bar Association (MLBA), Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL), Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA), Minnesota American Indian Bar Association (MAIBA), Minnesota Mother Attorneys Association (MMAA), and Somali American Bar Association (SABA) jointly issue the following statement in response to recent reports about the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance prosecution policy that has triggered a spike in family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Trump Administration’s policy to prosecute every adult who crosses the U.S. – Mexico border illegally or even in connection with lawfully seeking asylum, and, in addition, to separate those adults from their minor children, is in stark contrast to our country’s bedrock principles of treating all individuals with equality and dignity. No existing law forces federal prosecutors to prioritize the immigration violations of families seeking asylum. At least 2,700 families have been separated at the border since October 2017. Organizations offering aid at the border report that parents separated from their children are not told where their children will go. Recent reports indicate that the Department of Homeland Security is operating three “tender care” facilities  for infants and toddlers who are separated at the border from their families. The American Psychological Association warns that separating children from their parents causes serious harm to children already suffering trauma from fleeing their countries of origin. The psychological toll inflicted on these children is inhumane and our government’s policy of separating minor children is reprehensible. Although the Trump Administration has now indicated it will end this policy of separating minor children from their parents, there is no plan in place to quickly reunite currently-detained children with their parents.

Putting an end to this policy decision does not address reunification of families that have been separated nor does it address the awful conditions parents and the children are being held in. We call on lawmakers to take swift action in passing legislation to ensure such a policy cannot be reinstated and that children who have been separated from their families have a safe and expedient procedure for being reunited with their parents. To be clear, we can protect our borders while still being humane and compassionate to those in need.

We also encourage our members to continue our tradition of service by offering pro bono legal counsel to families and unaccompanied minors and supporting on-the-ground organizations providing humanitarian relief.

Thank you to our clinic volunteers on June 27 at Hmong American Partnership!

MNAPABA joins NAPABA in its position regarding the separation of families entering the US at non-point of entry border crossings. MNAPABA urges the President and his Administration to reunite children separated from their parents quickly with no further delay.

NAPABA Condemns the Separation of Children and Parents at the U.S. Border

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) strongly condemns the Trump Administration’s cruel “zero tolerance” enforcement policy of referring all non-port-of-entry-border crossers for criminal prosecution.

According to news reports, during the past several weeks over 2,000 undocumented children have been separately detained from their families after entering the United States. The adults are sent to criminal detention for prosecution while the children are placed in separate detention centers, treated as unaccompanied minors, and undergo removal proceedings.

This practice of separating families at the border is cruel and inhumane. Family separation should not be used as an immigration enforcement strategy and deterrent to migration. Detaining vulnerable children and separating them from their families is damaging to the well-being of the children, can create lasting trauma for families, and violates due process rights. NAPABA strongly urges the Administration to abandon this inhumane practice that is contrary to our values as Americans.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

Office of Governor Mark Dayton

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2018

 

Contact: Sam Fettig

651-201-3408 desk

612-214-2886 cell

sam.fettig@state.mn.us

 

Commission on Judicial Selection Announces Vacancy in the Fifth Judicial District

 

ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that a judgeship vacancy is occurring in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable Leland O. Bush, and will be co-chambered at Ivanhoe in Lincoln County and Marshall in Lyon County.

 

The Commission is searching for fair, experienced, and civic-minded individuals to serve on the bench and offer their talents and services to Minnesota’s judicial system. The following qualities will be considered for judicial office: integrity, maturity, health (if job related), judicial temperament, legal knowledge, ability, experience, and community service. The application process is now open for this vacancy.

 

An individual wishing to apply may request an application by writing to Lee E. Sheehy, Chair of the Commission on Judicial Selection, at 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155, or by contacting Megan Jablonski Johnson, Judicial Appointments Coordinator, via e-mail at a Megan.JablonskiJohnson@state.mn.us. A cover letter and resume should also be submitted with the application. Application materials are due by close of business on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Interviews are scheduled to be held on Wednesday June 27, 2018. 

 

For inquiries concerning the application process, please contact Megan Jablonski Johnson at megan.jablonskijohnson@state.mn.us or at (651) 201-3451.

 

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Office of the Governor, Communications Department

130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155

T: 651-201-3400 | Dayton.Media@state.mn.us

Office of Governor Mark Dayton

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2018

 

Contact: Sam Fettig

651-201-3408 desk

612-214-2886 cell

sam.fettig@state.mn.us

 

Commission on Judicial Selection Announces Vacancies in the Fourth Judicial District

 

ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that two judgeship vacancies are occurring in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. These vacancies will occur upon the retirements of the Honorable Mel I. Dickstein and the Honorable Daniel H. Mabley. These seats will be chambered at Minneapolis in Hennepin County.

 

The Commission is searching for fair, experienced, and civic-minded individuals to serve on the bench and offer their talents and services to Minnesota’s judicial system. The following qualities will be considered for judicial office: integrity, maturity, health (if job related), judicial temperament, legal knowledge, ability, experience, and community service. The application process is now open for these vacancies.

 

An individual wishing to apply may request an application by writing to Lee E. Sheehy, Chair of the Commission on Judicial Selection, at 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155, or by contacting Megan Jablonski Johnson, Judicial Appointments Coordinator, via e-mail at a Megan.JablonskiJohnson@state.mn.us. A cover letter and resume should also be submitted with the application. Application materials are due by close of business on Monday, June 4, 2018. Interviews are scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018. 

 

For inquiries concerning the application process, please contact Megan Jablonski Johnson at megan.jablonskijohnson@state.mn.us or at (651) 201-3451.

 

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Office of Governor Mark Dayton, Communications Department

130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155

T: 651-201-3400 | E: Dayton.Media@state.mn.us 

The Honorable Gail Chang Bohr is being honored at the 2018 Women of Distinction event at the Hilton Minneapolis on May 7, 2018. This is the 10th year this event is being held to recognize outstanding women leaders and to raise support for Girl Scout programming. This year's keynote address will be given by Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. 

The 2018 Women of Distinction event has a number of sponsors and supporters, including Nilan Johnson Lewis.

For additional details, please visit the following website: https://www.girlscoutsrv.org/en/support/women-of-distinction.html 

  

Office of Governor Mark Dayton

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2018

 

Contact: Sam Fettig

651-201-3408 desk

612-214-2886 cell

sam.fettig@state.mn.us

 

Commission on Judicial Selection Announces Additional Vacancy and Extension of Deadline in the Second Judicial District

 

ST. PAUL, MN – The Commission on Judicial Selection announced today that an additional judgeship vacancy is occurring in Minnesota’s Second Judicial District. This vacancy will occur upon the retirement of the Honorable William H. Leary III. Applicants will be considered within one process for this vacancy and the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Edward S. Wilson, which was announced on Monday, April 2, 2018. Both seats will be chambered at St. Paul in Ramsey County.

 

The Commission is searching for fair, experienced, and civic-minded individuals to serve on the bench and offer their talents and services to Minnesota’s judicial system. The following qualities will be considered for judicial office: integrity, maturity, health (if job related), judicial temperament, legal knowledge, ability, experience, and community service. The application process has been extended and is now open for both seats.

 

An individual wishing to apply may request an application by writing to Lee E. Sheehy, Chair of the Commission on Judicial Selection, at 130 State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155, or by contacting Megan Jablonski Johnson, Judicial Appointments Coordinator, via e-mail at aMegan.JablonskiJohnson@state.mn.us. A cover letter and resume should also be submitted with the application.

 

Individuals who have already applied for the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Edward S. Wilson will be considered for both seats. Application materials for both vacancies are due by close of business on Thursday, April 26, 2018. Interviews for are scheduled to be held on Monday, May 14, 2018. 

 

For inquiries concerning the application process, please contact Megan Jablonski Johnson at megan.jablonskijohnson@state.mn.us or at (651) 201-3451.

 

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Office of Governor Mark Dayton, Communications Department

130 State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155

T: 651-201-3400 | E: Dayton.Media@state.mn.us

MNAPABA is now accepting applications for two (2) Summer Law Fellowships.

This year, MNAPABA will award Summer Law Fellowships to two (2) individuals ($2,000 each) who will serve underserved communities through a summer internship position with a governmental or non-profit organization. 

 

Download the application here.

To qualify, the summer position must:

• be arranged by the individual who is a law student or a recent graduate,
• extend at least eight weeks or a total of 320 hours, and 
• pay $500 or less per week.

Preference will be given to those directly serving Minnesota and/or Asian Pacific American communities.

 

Applications are due by May 1, 2018 at 10:00 p.m. CST 
by email to  touch.thouk@stinson.com.

Minority judges in Minnesota State and Federal Courts were honored in a reception at the Federal Courthouse on March 8.

Pictured below are (left to right) the Honorables Shan Wang, Sophia Vuelo, Gail Chang Bohr, and Tony Leung. Thank you all for your service!