Expungement of Drug Charges in Minnesota

One of the grounds for a statutory expungement is for certain drug charges. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609A.02, subd. 1, a person may seek an expungement of a drug charges in which the person received a statutory stay of adjudication for 4th or 5th degree drug possession cases. That statutory stay of adjudication is often referred to

Stay of Imposition Expungement Update – Court of Appeals Decision

As has been discussed in this blog previously, the biggest ambiguity in the expungement law is how courts should interpret a stay of imposition expungement petition – specifically, is the conviction a felony as originally adjudicated or a misdemeanor as the record currently shows after the petitioner successfully completes probation? An incredibly thorough and well-reasoned

DWI Expungements Could Become Even More Difficult to Obtain

Even with all gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions being eligible for a statutory expungement, people are still surprised to learn that they can, in fact, expunge their DWI conviction. But, this may no longer be reality if the Minnesota DWI Task Force gets its way. The DWI Task Force recently came out opposing the ability

Appealing an Expungement Order

Once a judge issues an order, there is an automatic 60-day stay period, which is the time period a party must appeal in order for a higher court to review the district court order. If you received an order not in your favor, you should understand what to expect if you choose to appeal it.

Expunging Stay of Imposition Records – Update

The biggest ambiguity in the new expungement law is how courts will treat stay of imposition records. The question the courts will have to answer: is the conviction considered a felony (which the petitioner was originally charged and pled guilty to) or a misdemeanor (as the conviction is now deemed by operation of law)? Courts

Speculative Arguments Cannot Be Used to Oppose Expungements

State attorneys will guard and protect criminal records at all costs – even when the record involves a resolution in the petitioner’s favor, such as an acquittal. Yes, that’s correct. State attorneys will even object to an expungement of a record in which the defendant was found not guilty by a jury of his or

Expunge DHS Records – Court of Appeals Decision

For individuals that work in a field licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS), trying to expunge DHS records is imperative if you have a criminal record. The DHS has a list of offenses – even if unproven in a criminal case – that can disqualify an individual from continuing their career. An expungement

DWI Expungement – Court of Appeals Decision

A frustrating trend had emerged in Hennepin County with its handling of DWI expungements. It was becoming quite clear that obtaining an expungement of a DWI record was going to be nearly impossible. Other counties throughout the State give DWI expungement requests fair consideration and have granted them. But, Hennepin County had yet to do

Expungement Appeal – Standards of Review

With the Supreme Court set to hear the big appeal on the stay of imposition issue as it relates to expungements this coming October, let’s review the applicable standards of review the Court should employ in an expungement appeal. The decision itself – i.e. whether to grant or deny an expungement petition – is reviewed