Minnesota Supreme Court Decisions

The Minnesota Supreme Court holds its sessions in a chamber in the Minnesota State Capitol or in the Minnesota Judicial Center. In addition to reviewing decisions in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court may review decisions in the Minnesota Tax Court and the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. It also holds jurisdiction over appeals from the Lawyers’ Professional Responsibility Board and the Board of Judicial Standards. The Court will hear a direct appeal from a trial court only in cases involving first-degree murder or challenges to elections.

Under the Minnesota Constitution, the justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court must be “learned in the law.” No other specific requirements apply. Seven justices serve on the Court, and their terms last for six years. The process of selecting justices involves non-partisan elections. This means that the candidates are not labeled on the ballot according to their affiliation with any political party. If a vacancy arises on the Court, the Governor of Minnesota holds the authority to appoint a replacement justice to fill the seat. A non-partisan election also determines the position of the Chief Justice, who similarly holds that position for six years.

Justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court and other courts in the state must follow the four canons in the Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct, as well as the sub-rules in each canon. If a justice engages in misconduct, they may face removal through an impeachment proceeding. This requires a majority vote by the Minnesota House of Representatives and a two-thirds vote by the Minnesota Senate. In other cases, the Supreme Court may remove or otherwise discipline a justice upon a recommendation by the Board on Judicial Standards. Justices also may be subject to recall elections.

Browse Opinions From the Minnesota Supreme Court
Recent Decisions From the Minnesota Supreme Court
State v. Stone  
Date: September 27, 2023
 Docket Number: A21-1648

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's conviction of one count of possession of a firearm by an ineligible person under Minn. Stat. 609.165, subd. 1b(a), holding that a…

Johnson v. Freborg  
Date: September 20, 2023
 Docket Number: A21-1531

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of appeals reversing the order of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of Defendant in this defamation case, holding that before Plaintiff may recover…

State v. Johnson  
Date: September 13, 2023
 Docket Number: A21-1360

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's conviction of falsely reporting a crime to a police officer, holding that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and…

Ringsred v. City of Duluth  
Date: September 13, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-0374

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeals reversing the determination of the district court that the underlying First Amendment retaliation claim brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983 was time-barred,…

State v. Torgerson  
Date: September 13, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-0425

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court granting Defendant's motion to suppress evidence found during a search of his vehicle, holding that the odor of…

Fordyce v. State  
Date: September 6, 2023
 Docket Number: A21-1619

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's conviction, following a jury trial, of gross-misdemeanor indecent exposure, holding that an individually who willfully and lewdly exposes himself in the privately-owned,…

State v. Mosley  
Date: September 6, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-1073

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of appeals affirming the judgment of the district court granting Defendant's motion to suppress evidence discovered in the vehicle that Defendant was driving, holding…

State v. Thompson  
Date: August 30, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-0192

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court granting Defendant postconviction relief by ordering a substantive sentencing hearing, holding that, under the circumstances of this case, it would be…

State v. Lampkin  
Date: August 23, 2023
 Docket Number: A20-0361

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals affirming Defendant's conviction of felony domestic assault-harm under Minn. Stat. 609.2242, subds. 1(2), 4, holding that there was no error in the…

Maslowski v. Prospect Funding Partners LLC  
Date: August 23, 2023
 Docket Number: A21-1338

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court and court of appeals finding that a repurchase rate in a litigation financing agreement violated Minnesota's usury statute, Minn. Stat. 334.01, holding that…

Wood v. County of Blue Earth  
Date: August 23, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-0314

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that, under Minnesota statutes in a condemnation proceeding, Blue Earth County did not owe just compensation to Landowners for the loss of a right to access to a newly constructed controlled-access…

Woodard v. State  
Date: August 23, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-1483

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the district court summarily denying Appellant's petition for postconviction relief without an evidentiary hearing, holding that Appellant was conclusively entitled to no relief…

City Bella Commercial, LLC v. City Bella on Lyndale  
Date: August 16, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-0288

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the conclusions of the district court and court of appeals that Minn. Stat. 515B.2-118(b), a statute of limitations contained within the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act, applied to bar…

Bloomington Hotel Investors, LLC v. County of Hennepin  
Date: August 9, 2023
 Docket Number: A22-1201

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part the decision of the tax court that the taxable 2018 market value of a DoubleTree in Bloomington was $25,500,000, an amount that exceeded the valuations offered by…

In the Matter of the Denial of Contested Case Hearing Requests & Issuance of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System  
Date: August 2, 2023
 Docket Numbers: A19-0112, A19-0118, A19-0124, A20-1271, A20-1380, A20-1385

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that an action taken by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in issuing a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System permit was arbitrary and capricious and that…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.