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 misconception is that once a defendant has served a cumulative total of 12 months in
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 issues involving evidence, procedure, judicial best practices, and practical litigation guidance for Minnesota judges and
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 matter, the absence of a clear record can significantly increase the risk of a later
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 with little or no visible injury, yet the underlying conduct may represent one of the
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 perhaps even said it yourself.
This new training update takes a close look at a
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 v. Lorsung, clarifying what constitutes reasonable suspicion for an officer to request a preliminary breath
SUBJECT: Training Update 26-03 – Substitute Public Defender Requests: Avoiding Reversible Error
Colleagues,
I have just posted a new Minnesota Judicial Training Update (26-03) addressing a situation every judge and criminal practitioner eventually encounters:
QUESTION: When a Defendant demands a new public defender in the middle of a criminal case, what is the trial judge
SUBJECT: New Training Update: Out-of-State Convictions — A Sentencing Trap You Can’t Ignore
Dear Colleagues,
I’m sharing a new Martine Law Training Update addressing a deceptively common — and highly consequential — sentencing issue: how out-of-state convictions may (and may not) be used when calculating a defendant’s criminal history score.
In State v. Johnson (Minn.
Dear Colleagues,
Artificial intelligence is now a routine part of legal research—but courts are making it equally clear that delegating judgment to AI is not an option. Sanctions, fee-shifting, disciplinary referrals, and reputational damage are no longer theoretical risks when hallucinated cases or fake citations find their way into filings.
The problem is not that
SUBJECT: Martine Law Training Updates – Complete Recap (May–December 2025)
Dear Colleagues,
In the fast-paced worlds of criminal and family law, staying current on legal developments, courtroom procedure, and practical advocacy tools is essential. Since May 2025, the Martine Law Firm has issued eleven training updates covering core areas of Criminal Law, Family Law, Evidence,