Hennepin County Public Defender - 4th Judicial District - Minneapolis, MN 701 Fourth Avenue South Suite 1400 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Visit Website (612) 348-7530 Contact Us Updated: 02/26/2013 Your Profile? Other supporters praised her work in ending marijuana sting operations that disproportionately affected Black people. According to court documents the Star Tribune first reported in August, Benson allegedly withheld payroll taxes from his employees but didnt turn over the money to the government. Benson previously faced criticism for continuing to do work for private clients while overseeing the public defenders office in Hennepin County. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Bob Kolstad, union steward for the lawyers represented by the Teamsters Local 320 in the Hennepin County office, said Benson's continued outside work "shows he's not as 100% into the job as he claimed he would be.". The Hennepin County Public Defender Office provides peer mentoring to support employees. But he said that "personal issues involving matters outside of my position will likely distract from the great work that we have accomplished. With neglect, the most common form of maltreatment, the harm results from what the parent or caretaker fails to do to provide a child with needed care and protection. According to a citation filed earlier this month in Hennepin County, a police officer noted Bensons eyes were bloodshot and watery. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Minnesotas top public defender reappointed over objections, Public defenders vote to strike; justice system could come, Text of President Biden's first State of the Union address. KSTP-TV, LLC By January 2021, Benson had stopped speaking to Jacobsson. 'Lake Chipotle' floods south Minneapolis parking lot early this year, Instructor who showed Prophet Muhammad images sues; Hamline says response 'flawed', Chauvin's attorney makes case for new trial to Minn. Court of Appeals, Mall of America shooting death suspect and his mother arrested. "The reality is I'm working all the time," Benson said. And were free. Bob Kolstad, who has been the public defenders' union steward since 2016 and with the office since 2010, said that while many young lawyers who looked up to Benson as a mentor will be sad to see him go, many lawyers already have left under Benson. As the county's chief public defender, Benson has one client. Find information on Hennepin County properties including but not limited to taxes due (tax statement), current and prior year taxes, assessment values, tax parcel description, and sales information. We are committed to change, and to co-creating solutions with those impacted to support communities where everyone experiences optimal health and wellness. You can find out if the report has been accepted for investigation. "It's not as if he's not resolving the cases," said Ward, a former Hennepin County chief public defender. She said the drive to remove her, which began late last year when she was put on paid administrative leave, was a direct result of her pointing out racial inequities and publicly criticizing other actors in the judicial system, particularly Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. Former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty ORG XMIT: MIN2109081513000366 The Hennepin County Attorney's current salary is $195,065. I feel as though this is so Minnesota. Despite holding a full-time government job for 18 months, Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Kassius Benson has continued to represent private clients, a practice that may be illegal. > Although the board voted 4-2 against her, Macalester professor. Our department is proud to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Kassius Benson at a meeting of the Board of Public Defense on Sept. 13, 2022. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Hennepin County Public Defender's Office job openings State of Minnesota Public Defender's Office job openings View all job openings for the State of Minnesota Public Defender's Office If you're in the criminal justice system and can't afford an attorney, the Public Defender's office can represent you. The 2015 seizure of. Address 317 2nd Avenue South Minneapolis , Minnesota , 55401 Phone 612-348-7530 Fax 612-348-6179 Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Map of Hennepin County Public Defender View map of Hennepin County Public Defender, and get driving directions from your location. | The Calhoun Building, 3201 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55408 (612) 824-5005 info@hawkinslawoffice.com If you are a mandated reporter, you should call to make a report within 24 hours and personally file a written report within 72 hours of the verbal report (excluding weekends and holidays). Were in the halls of government tracking what elected officials are up to and monitoring the powerful forces trying to influence them. Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it. It also says that the investigation has established probable cause to believe KBL [Kassius Benson Law] and Benson violated federal criminal laws and that evidence of said crimes will be found in the subject account.. Yes, I would say that could be a problem, he said. We're here to work for your interests. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. He also oversees an office with the equivalent of 107 full-time lawyers on staff and more than 50 support staff. "I know that I have served the position of Chief well," Benson wrote. Hennepin County is committed to the safety, stability, and well-being of children and families in our community. The article has been updated. Benson started as Hennepin Countys Public Defender in January 2021, according to his private law firm website. 12 weeks, full time, at $25/hour, for a total of $12000. Public Defender Adams County Public Defender's Office 521 Vermont Street Quincy, IL 62301 (217) 277-2195 Alexander Shane M. Aden Alexander County Public Defender 1603 Carmie Lane Marion, IL 62959-1573 (618) 889-8360 Boone Kathryn J. Download a brief overview of Hennepin County Public Health programs and initiatives (PDF). Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. Mary Frances Moriarty (born January 14, 1964) is an American attorney and politician serving as the County Attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota. The two who earn the most votes at the August 9 primaries will move forward to the . The Minnesota Board of Public Defense released a statement from . Bensons resignation became public two days after the traffic stop. With the race . I don't think people feel supported in the struggles they have with judges. Minnesotas Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea ordered the case be moved out of Hennepin County, where Benson served for more than a year. Taking the first two years of his four-year term to finish work for private clients, seems like "an awful long time," Schultz said. October 17, 2022 - 2:43 PM. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. This is determined by statute and state screening guidelines. Hennepin County Public Defenders New York University School of Law Activity A nice surprise to be shortlisted for 'Government and Third Sector Junior of the Year'! In the notice sent to Ward, Benson expressed his gratitude for having led the office for the past two years. And when I say that, what I mean is that we dont talk about race. Snow will begin Wednesday night and last through Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said. Unless this information would be detrimental to the best interests of the child, you also will receive a summary about Hennepin Countys disposition of the report. C11, Hennepin County Government Center Public Safety Facility Brookdale Courthouse Ridgedale Courthouse Self-Help Center services are available by phone and email, as well as in person. Jesse Dong, a managing attorney at the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, kicks off our 2022 Profiles in Practice series. In a letter to State Public Defender Bill Ward that he shared with staff, Benson cited personal issues involving matters outside of my position.. She was voted out of the post Wednesday. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. The federal probe started in July 2020 six months before Benson was hired by the state when, according to the affidavit, revenue agent Joni Jacobsson began an audit relating to the 2017 forms Benson was to have filed. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets cant or wont tell. One faces a jury trial on felony drug and firearms charges in August in Itasca County, and another is scheduled for pretrial hearings in Hibbing in St. Louis County in late July. The Minnesota Capitol. more of the story, Hennepin chief public defender still hasprivate clients while in public office, Chief Hennepin Public Defender under federal investigation for tax evasion, was under investigation into whether he failed to pay federal taxes. Ward also did not return a request for comment. A lifelong public defender and a retired judge vying to become the next Hennepin County attorney both call for criminal justice reform, but disagree about how much power the office has over police accountability. Do not delay. 5 Hennepin County Public Defender reviews. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Call 612-348-8900with general questions about the department. Follow Minnesota Reformer on Facebook and Twitter. Ward agreed that COVID-19 extended the transition and expressed confidence in Benson's ability to balance the demands of wrapping up a practice with his new job. Find Court Records and Criminal Records related to Hennepin County Public Defender. . He was also cited for driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Those clients were from his 17 years in the practice for which he still maintains a website. But we need a professional working relationship.". Around 470 public defenders and 200 support staff across Minnesota have rejected the state's . Mary Moriarty. 611.263 EMPLOYER; RAMSEY, HENNEPIN DEFENDERS. Moriarty, who spent 31 years in the Hennepin County Public Defender office, the last six as chief public defender, retired in 2021. In an email to the Star Tribune, Benson confirmed that he provided a notice of resignation and forwarded it to Ward on Monday afternoon. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman sent a notice to district court officials on Jan. 21 that his office wanted to ban Hennepin County District Judge William Koch from presiding over all felony cases. An application for public defender must be truthfully completed. Most recently he was an associate producer for Minnesota Public Radio after a stint at NPR. The warrant, issued in January, was under seal until July. Benson not respond to a request for comment. Hennepin County is the most populous county in Minnesota and contains the city of Minneapolis. The boards vote sets in motion a process to appoint a new chief defender that is laid out in, : Hennepin County District Chief Judge Toddrick S. Barnette, who became the. . According to court documents, on July 10, 2020, and on . Join us in protecting the safety of our community by reporting crimes and working with law enforcement. A former employee of Benson's private firm told the Star Tribune that they testified in July under subpoena before a federal grand jury. Parents with children in the child protection system can get legal representation. "The only person that should be concerned about that is me, and I have zero concerns," he said. Kolstad said the full-time lawyers in the public defender's office are prohibited by law from working with private clients so there's a sense of a "what's good for me is not good for thee.". Hennepin County Public Health's 2019 annual report, Hennepin County Public Health's 2018 annual bulletin (PDF), Hennepin County Public Health's 2017 annual bulletin (PDF), Hennepin County Public Health's 2016-2020 community health assessment (PDF). We host students enrolled in a public health discipline: nursing, advanced practice nursing, physician assistant, community health worker, environmental health, and dietetics. The citation lists his blood alcohol content at .13, nearly twice the legal limit. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office's new Brady policy released in mid-October does not pass constitutional muster and fails to take the steps needed to ensure justice for defendants in Hennepin County. It's one of the single most effective solutions to address climate change. There will be additional training on research and writing, an exposure to the various software utilized by the office. Benson has more trials for private clients upcoming. Those two additional members must live in Hennepin County and reflect the characteristics of the population served by the public defender, according to statute. Were in the halls of government tracking what elected officials are up to and monitoring the powerful forces trying to influence them. In August, it became public knowledge that Benson was under investigation into whether he failed to pay federal taxes withheld for employees at his private Minneapolis-based criminal defense firm, Kassius Benson Law. He said he expects to wrap up his private clients in the next six months and that he is able to keep the work separate. Multidisciplinary teams review reports of child maltreatment in order to determine whether or not the report meets the criteria for an investigation or assessment. It's about the inability to work professionally. "Bottom line: I'm finishing my cases.". . Select your job title and find out how much you could make at Hennepin County Public Defender. She won a $300,000 settlement for what she said was to avoid a looming discrimination lawsuit over her advocating for pay parity. Find child protection data, trends and analysis: Learn more about work to transform county services and supports for children and families: Children and family services staff directory, Be@School program (Hennepin County Attorney), Learn more about foster care and adoption, Learn about free lawyers for eligible clients, Read more on the Hennepin County Attorney's be@school webpage, Annual reports: Child protection and child well-being, Children and Family Services 2021 annual report (PDF), Children and Family Services 2020 annual report (PDF), Child protection 2019 annual report (PDF), Child protection 2019 annual report (Spanish) (PDF), Child Well-Being 2022 annual report (PDF), Child Well-Being 2021 annual report (PDF), Child Well-Being 2020 annual report (PDF), Child Well-Being Advisory Committee: 2018 report (PDF), Information about the family, including the names and addresses of the child and parents, Specific descriptions of the suspected abuse and neglect to the child, including what happened, when it occurred and the identity of the abuser, Names of other family and household members, Supply the child with the necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical or mental health care or appropriate supervision, Protect the child from conditions or actions that endanger the child. Cross Public Defender Boone County Public Defender's Office 130 S. State Street Suite 311 Belvidere, IL 61008 Seven candidates are running for Hennepin County attorney. MPR News is not just a listener supported source of information, it's a resource where listeners are supported. sheriff.jailinfo@hennepin.us. By Find court locations, calendars, filing fees and general court information. Max Nesterak is the deputy editor of the Reformer and reports on labor and housing. The Hennepin County Public Defender, located in Minneapolis, MN, represents defendants who cannot afford an attorney. The Itasca County case stems from a September 2020 incident about three months before Benson was chosen by the State Board of Public Defense to succeed Mary Moriarty as Hennepin County chief public defender. by Jared Goyette, Minnesota Reformer September 30, 2020. Printable reporting form (PDF). Reference copies of the booklet are available at Hennepin County Library. 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