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Hennepin County Drug Court honors 23 graduates (Jan. 8 2009)
Graduates from Hennepin County Drug Court celebrated their successful completion of a 12 month program led by Fourth Judicial District's problem solving Drug Court judges Peter Cahill and Toddrick Barnette. The 23 graduates, surrounded by family, griends, probation officers and staff listened to Chief Justice Eric Magnuson remark in his address that the judiciary is "committed to support Drug Court funding."
The objective of Hennepin County Drug Court is to reduce criminal recidivism among chemically dependent participants that are at high risk to re-offend, reduce illegal drug usage and improve community function in the areas of employment, education and housing.
The graduates successfully completed the 12 month program used to facilitate short and long term behavioral change measured by a point system using three phases. Requirements include at least 120 continuous, sober/clean days; complete treatment and aftercare, attend 50 12-step meetings; have a12-step sponsor; complete community service work; have no pending criminal charges; pay all program fees; and have full time work or school.
A national study conducted by the Urban Institute, a non-partisan economic and social policy research organization in Washington, D.C., concludes that 84 percent of drug court participants did not have any criminal activity within one year of graduation.
Juvenile Court finalizes adoptions of special needs children (Nov. 15, 2008)
Juvenile Court celebrated final adoption proceedings for 35 children adopted by 24 families on National Adoption Day 2008. Five Juvenile Court judges presided over the adoptions, the culmination of a collaborative effort supported by the Hennepin County Board, Child Services workers, dozens of volunteers from the community and sponsored by Target Corporation.
Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Kathryn Quaintance said, "Adoption Day is a very special celebration, a happy ending for families and children who have probably experienced tremendous stress. Adoption is the promise of a permanent, safe home with loving parents."
National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the thousands of children in foster care waiting to be adopted. Currently Hennepin County has 111children in need of adoptive families. For the last several years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by bringing together courts, judges, attorneys and advocates to finalize adoptions.
Court Calendars in Hennepin County during the Republican National Convention (Aug. 29, 2008)
Hennepin County District Court will process cases of persons arrested during the Republican National Convention (RNC) beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2008, normally a court holiday. Tuesday through Friday, September 2-5, 2008, court calendars are scheduled beginning at 8:30 a.m. for RNC-related in custody cases.
Additional court calendars will be scheduled on an as-needed basis. For updates on additional calendars, call 612-596-6919. Court sessions will be scheduled in downtown Minneapolis at the Public Safety Facility, 401 South Fourth Street and the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street.
Hennepin County Drug Court honors graduates (August 11, 2008)
The Fourth Judicial District serving Hennepin County will honor 12 graduates from Drug Court on August 14, 2008 from 12:30-2:00 p.m. hosted by Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson, 200 South 6th Street, Minneapolis.
Fourth Judicial District conducts Access and Fairness Survey (April 10, 2008) As part of a statewide effort to study access and fairness in the courts, judges and staff donned "You Be the Judge" tee shirts and collected over 250 responses. Photo below: Chief Judge Lucy Wieland (at left) and Nancy Peters of District Court Public Affairs gather opinions from court customers.
Judge Allen Oleisky Day (March 31, 2008) Read the Proclamation (pdf) issued by Governor Tim Pawlenty in honor of Judge Oleisky's retirement as Minnesota's longest serving judge. Judge Oleisky (see photo) was appointed by former governor Wendall Anderson in July 1972.
Susan Ledray & Katrina Zabinski of the Self-Help Center receive 2008 John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award from Helen Burke of the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information on March 14, 2008. More information...
Governor Pawlenty appoints four new judges to the Fourth Judicial District (February 6, 2008).
Nancy Peters
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