MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION FOR COURT MANAGEMENT REFLECTIONS

Volume 1, Issue 3

October through December 2009 State legislators find out what makes DWI and drug courts unique by Susan Love, MACM President & Tim Kraus, Training Specialist, Fourth Judicial District Court

The last few people shuffle into the courtroom, still donning their heavy coats and scarves, evi- dence of the cold Minnesota De- cember weather outside the courthouse. Just as these last few are finding their seats, a court staff person calls the “All Rise” that signifies that the court ses- sion has begun. As the first case is called, the respondent is called to approach the bench, a young mother with her daughter in Photo by Nancy Peters arms, happily bouncing at her Left to right: Representative Lyndon Carlson; Officer Patrick Windu; Barbara Jacobs, Senate Staff; Brooke Bord- son, House Staff; Representative Paul Kohls, Senator Kenneth Kelash, Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll. MN for Safe hip. The judge leans forward to Driving Back Row: Mark Casagrande, Park Avenue Treatment Center; Julianna Schroeder, Henn. Cnty. Probation the two and reaches out his hand to the woman for an unconven- Government Center, Minnesota and making them productive tional court greeting: a fist- state legislators arrived bundled members of society again. We bump, which is followed by an in their own long wool coats and are helping Minnesota citizens adorable fist-bump for the scarves to begin their visit to the and tax payers in this court." woman’s daughter. DWI and Drug Courts. Each morning before the Drug This is the start of a typical up- Ken Bergstrom, Legislative Li- Court calendar begins, the pre- aison, greets all of the visitors date hearing DWI Court in the siding judge sits down with pro- Fourth Judicial District, where and finds them a seat on the pe- bation officers, prosecutors, things happen a little differently. riphery of the meeting that will Earlier that same morning, on the shortly commence. Chief Judge public defenders and treatment 8th floor of the Hennepin County James Swenson greeted the dis- providers to review the cases tinguished visitors and ex- that they are hearing that day. plained: This process is part of what INSIDE THIS ISSUE: makes Drug Court unique. "In DWI and Drug Court, you Ken Bergstrom, Legislative With this approach, the focus is 4 really get to see the fruits of col- Liaison lective efforts in turning peo- on the progress of each Drug Court participant. The judge District Updates 5-9 ple’s lives around. These two courts give back to society from gets a perspective about whether Washington County Opens 10- a cost savings perspective by New Courthouse 11 getting people on the right track Continued on Page 2 Page 2 MACM REFLECTIONS

State legislators find out what makes DWI and drug courts unique Continued from Page 1

Photo by Nancy Peters

Front Row Left to Right: Representative Tin Liebling, Representative Mike Nelson, Representative , Senator Rou Latz, Senator Gen Olson, Representative Keith Downey. Back Row Left to Right: Christina Hughes, House Staff; Senator D. Scott Dibble; Senator Terri Bonoff; David Gross, Senate Staff; Senator ; Representa- tive Dan Severson; Representative Kurt Zellers, House Minority Leader

or not they are checking in with ticipants in the DWI and Drug their stories about how DWI/ their probation officer, attending Court programs is possible only Drug Court helped them make a their treatment appointments, through hard work and determi- needed change in their life. passing their UAs, and general nation. Mark, sober for 3 years: “After updates about how their life is I spent 18 months in jail for my going. The program is offered to non- 5th DWI, I realized I needed to violent offenders who are chemi- make a change in my life. This

cally dependent and likely to court turned my life around. I Changing lives, one fist-bump reoffend. As a result of the pro- keep reflecting on where I am at at a time: The next stop for the gram’s difficulty, many offenders in my program and my life. This legislators was to observe a hear- choose to serve their sentences court forced me and pushed me to ing in action. The DWI Court, instead. make changes in my life. As a which uses a similar model as drunk, you don’t know what’s Drug Court in the Fourth District, Remarked Judge Holahan: best for you. I take my sobriety began a hearing just next door as one day at a time. Today, I am the Drug Court team worked “Some people who have failed a going to stay sober. Now I can away at the case reviews. UA test come to court knowing drive. Everyone here cares about they will be taken into custody me. I’ve completed what they This brings and they still come because they asked me to do and it changed us back to the want to be held accountable. my life. Not everything is per- young Some people who think the pro- fect, but it is a lot easier to get woman with gram is too difficult would rather through life when I am not the bouncing do their time in custody. This drunk.” daughter at program is about changing peo- her hip. ple's lives." Scenes like this are not As the legislators sat shoulder-to- uncommon in shoulder in the courtroom, par- DWI and ticipants who have had great suc- Drug Courts; however it is not cess with the program shared always the case. Success for par- Continued on Page 3 Page 3 MACM REFLECTIONS

State legislators find out what makes DWI and drug courts unique Continued from Page 2

John, sober for 19 months: "I have been attending support groups and driving with the inter- lock system. I am doing great. This is the longest I have ever been sober in my life. I drove for 20 years without a license and without insurance. I’ve had 10 DWI’s. Now I can drive with a valid license, and I am sober."

Rachel, a newcomer to the pro- Picture by Nancy Peters gram, sober for 4 months: Legislators observe Judge Cahill meeting with probation officers, prosecutors, public defenders and treatment providers to “I have had a difficult time getting review the cases that they are hearing that day. sober. My family is full of law- probation officer, presented with yers who would pull me out of in this court and this program their certificate and invited to every jam. Then Judge Holahan watched over me and cared for me. share his or her own success story. told me he was going to send me They say it takes 28 days to form a to the workhouse for two weeks. I habit, well it took me longer. As I knew when I decided to be a part of this program that I wanted to participated in this program a day turn my life around, but I didn’t at a time, it changed my life. I know how to. All of the people in look back on the way I was living, this program helped me get back and I can’t relate to it at all. I was on track. You have to be willing just getting through life. This pro- to change your whole life, and it is gram and everyone here became Current participants in the pro- hard. I am really grateful and gram are invited to attend these such an integral part of my life, lucky to be here. If it weren’t for graduation ceremonies and during this program, I would be back out and it changed me." their visit, the Minnesota legisla- being the old me and ending up in tors were invited as well. Drug Court graduation is a suc- jail." Judge Peter Cahill, past Presiding cess story: When participants Judge of Drug Court, began the have been through all three phases Elizabeth, celebrating 20 months ceremony by reflecting: of the DWI or Drug Court pro- of sobriety: "Judge Holahan and gram, paid all fines and costs, per- “So often we see people in court everyone involved in this program formed all community service and only when they screw up, but it is is so significant in my life. I had met all stipulations laid out by the so nice to see them when they do court, they are ready for gradua- received 4 DWI’s. My attorneys well.” tion from the program. got me out of situations so I could continue on the wrong road. Judge As each graduate stood in front of At the graduation ceremony held the group, it was easy for the legis- Holahan gave me a choice – prison in a courtroom in the Hennepin or this program. Prison would not lators and everyone else in the County Government Center, each have changed my life. Everyone graduate is introduced by their Continued on Page 4 Page 4 MACM REFLECTIONS

State legislators find out what makes DWI and drug courts unique Continued from Page 3 courtroom to see the real differ- nepin County DWI and Drug Karla Bigham, Rep. Debra Hil- ence that DWI and Drug Courts Courts from July through Decem- strom, Rep. Dave Olin, Rep. Joe can make in the lives of the par- ber 2009, resulted in an invitation Mullery and Rep. Ron Shi- ticipants, and as a result, the com- to the DWI Court team to brief the manski. Seven of them have vis- munity. Remarked one graduate: Senate-House Working Group on ited the Hennepin County DWI “When I first came [to Drug Impaired Driving Offenders on and Drug Courts. Court] I was mad at everybody. February 3rd. Then change began to take place In 2009, there were 59 visitors to the DWI and Drug Courts in the Fourth Judicial District and the court gave me the chance The purpose of the group Court, including members of the Minnesota to really look at myself. Drug House and Senate, legislative staff, and others (established by Laws 2009 c 59 art (see below). Court, thank you for giving me my 5 s 23) is “to review and poten- life back.” : tially propose changes to the ♦ Committee on Judiciary state's policies and laws regarding ♦ Judiciary Budget Division ♦ Public Safety Budget Division impaired driving offenders.” Minnesota House of Representatives: ♦ Committee on Public Safety Policy and The 10 members of the group are Oversight Sen. Mee Moua, Sen. Linda ♦ Public Safety Finance Division

Scheid, Sen. , Sen. Linda The Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty An invitation to the capitol: The six visits of legislators to the Hen- Higgins, Sen. , Rep. Hennepin County legislative delegation

Ken Bergstrom, Legislative Liaison, Fourth Judicial District Court by Tim Kraus, Training Specialist, Fourth Judicial District Court

Does Ken Bergstrom’s name Ken has been with the Fourth Ju- sound familiar? This isn’t the first dicial District since 1996, and pre- time that Ken has been recognized viously spent 10 years working on by MACM for his outstanding ef- strategic and capital budget plan- forts advocating for the courts ning at Hennepin County. Ken’s with the . interest in the legislature had mod- est beginnings, however, when he In fact Ken was honored in 2007 interned with his local member of with MACM’s Best Achievement the Minnesota House of Represen- in Coordinating Legislative Ef- tatives in 1980. forts Award and again in 2009 with the Best Informant Award.

Ken is also the recipient of the es- teemed Anne V. Simonett Excel- lence in Service Award in 2008, Ken Bergstrom among others. Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 5

Minnesota State Court News From The Land of 10,000 Lakes

First Judicial District by Brenda Koenig, Dakota County Court Operations Manager

In tough economic times the In response, Dakota County As a result of this project, Da- volume of cases handled by the judges and administrators at- kota County is now scheduling courts typically rises. In spite of tempted a rather unique project felony jury trials 2 months from an increase in workload, staffing of setting up mass jury trial cal- the omnibus hearing and gross level reductions, and budget endars during the weeks of Sep- misdemeanor jury trials are cuts, the court system continues tember 8 and November 30, scheduled 4 months from the to provide services to the public 2009. The goal was to address omnibus hearing. Prior to this as efficiently and effectively as increasing delays in scheduling clean up period, both case types possible. of criminal trials in gross misde- had a 6 month time period be- meanor and felony cases by lim- tween the omnibus hearing and Scheduling cases in a timely iting other nonessential calen- jury trial. manner has been difficult with dars and scheduling additional the increase in the number of jury trial calendars during those Dakota County continues to cases combined with staffing two weeks. search for innovative ways to shortages and lack of judges. provide the same quality of ser- This had resulted in a backlog of Typically, the average number vice in an effort to keep pace criminal cases scheduled for of criminal jury trials scheduled with increased case loads and jury trials in Dakota County. per calendar in Dakota County staffing shortages. A mass jury is 25 cases. During the clean up trial calendar is merely one ex- period, 112 cases were set for ample of a creative approach to trial, 87 cases were settled, 16 caseflow management. cases were continued to a later date, and in 9 cases the defen- dant failed to appear. Ulti- mately, none of the cases went to trial.

Fourth Judicial District by Aaron Williamson, Hearing Officer & Emerging Leader’s Network Graduate

On January 6, 2010, the Fourth process which included first a Judicial District’s Education and written application, a letter of Organizational Development recommendation, and finally a celebrated the graduation of presentation given to a selection fourteen district court employ- committee made up of members ees from the 2009 Emerging of court administration. Leaders Network (ELN) pro- gram. The ELN group was made up of 2009 Emerging Leader’s Network many different court employees, The group’s members each went from various years of service, through a rigorous application Continued on Page 6 Page 6 MACM REFLECTIONS

Fourth Judicial District by Aaron Williamson, Hearing Officer & Emerging Leader’s Network Graduate

Fourth Judicial District Court, 2009 Emerging Leader’s Network Program Participants

Continued from Page 5 tions throughout the year, long courses and what had be- which pertained to the materi- come their own philosophy on including senior court clerks, als presented as well as their leadership. Many of the ELN lead-workers, supervisors, own leadership lessons. members gave special thanks hearing officers, paralegals, to their mentors, as well as to and guardians ad litem. An additional component of Deb Morse, Fourth HR Man- the program was that each ager, and Susan Love, Fourth The program took place member of the ELN was as- EOD Manager, who organized throughout 2009 and included signed a mentor from within and led the ELN group over one hundred hours of the district to gain advice and throughout the year. training, specific to leadership career coaching along the way. and career growth. Mentors were encouraged to The 2009 class was the second

The Emerging Leader’s Net- meet with their mentees to have graduated from the work participants met monthly monthly and set goals for what Fourth Judicial District’s pro- for training presented by Min- each hoped to get out of the gram. Many of the graduates nesota Judicial Branch staff as mentorship. from the prior class have been well as several leadership promoted or moved to other speakers from around the state, Fourth District Court Adminis- areas within the court. such as Jack Mateffy, Tom trator, Mark Thompson, was at Burns, Alanna Moravetz, and the graduation ceremony to A similar leadership group, John Busaker. The program congratulate the group for in- called the Leaders Excelling utilized several training materi- vesting their time and passion and Developing (LEAD) pro- als such as Stephen Covey’s 7 in becoming leaders in the gram, has been assembled this Habits of Highly Effective Indi- Minnesota Judicial Branch. year, to provide leadership viduals and Leading at the training specific to current su- Speed of Trust, as well as the Each ELN member gave a ten- pervisors and managers. The Gallop Organization’s Strength minute presentation to the Fourth District hopes to con- Finder Assessment. group of mentors and supervi- tinue the ELN program in sors and managers that assem- 2011. In addition to the monthly bled at the commencement. training, group members were The presentations offered a The Fourth Judicial District required to give five presenta- summary of what each group member got out of the year- encompasses Hennepin Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 7

Sixth Judicial District by Judy Isaacson, Carlton County Court Administrator The Minnesota Supreme Court the District Office. This has pleted in Grand Marais, Trust heard arguments this year in the proven efficient as it has re- and Conservatorship accounts, Hibbing High School auditorium duced travel time and travel ex- Virginia answering Duluth on October 14, 2009. This out- penses. Criminal office phone calls on reach activity has become very heavy arraignment days, Finan- popular since the first one was Judges are now experimenting cial Month-end duties being held also on The Range in Vir- with the use of these webcams completed outside of the county ginia in 1995. in conducting their Administra- for both staffing reasons and to tion Meetings. ensure internal control, Jury This year the case was the State Questionnaire Processing. of Minnesota vs. Adolphus Brown. The murder case origi- Another approach is the reas- nated in Hennepin County Dis- signment of supervisory staff trict Court and was appealed by between courthouses. This also the defendant in an effort to seek allows us to support court staff’s a new trial. transition to workforce reduc- tions and to the implementation The Sixth District management of new technology. team has been testing new ways of doing business across county In November, we invited Connie lines. The Sixth District has Gackstetter to the Sixth to pro- been leading the way in the use vide all managers and supervi- of Webcams in conjunction with sors a Goals Development work- WebEx. The Sixth is working to meet the shop. We are now emphasizing staffing levels of the lowest the use of Halogen as a goal set- Webcams are being used to con- norm. One approach is to ting tool for supervisors. duct weekly management meet- share work across county ings. This has allowed manag- lines. Examples of that work The Sixth Judicial District encom- ers to attend meetings from their include Duluth Default judg- passes Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. offices rather than traveling to ment paperwork being com- Louis counties. Page 8 MACM REFLECTIONS

Fifth Judicial District by Connie Belgard, Martin County Court Administrator

A $350,000 federal grant was prison for many felony level about the opportunity to give awarded to the Fifth Judicial offenders. It is a non-traditional non–violent persons in the com- District Court for adult drug approach to defendants who are munity an option for drug court implementation. The substance abusers. Rather than court. funds were awarded by the Bu- focusing only on the crime and reau of Justice Assistance – Of- punishment, drug courts attempt Participation has the prospect fice of Justice Programs. The to address the underlying condi- for allowing them to become award will go to the Southwest tions which lead to criminal be- drug free, working, contributing Community Drug Court to serve havior such as addiction, lack of members of the commu- residents of Lincoln, Lyon and job skills and thinking errors. nity. When they finish this pro- Redwood (LLR) counties. gram they will have demon- The goal is to keep offenders strated an ability to care for Under the leadership of Judges sober by providing long term themselves, their children, and Leland Bush, David Peterson treatment and directing them to family. Over time everyone and Senior Judge George education, employment and should win with the reduction in Harrelson, two planning teams other options that may keep crime and community service for the new court have been them from re-offending. needs.” Honorable Leland meeting for the past year. The Bush, Fifth District Court Judge teams are comprised of repre- Drug court programs are de- Lincoln/Lyon County sentatives from LLR county and signed to fit the unique charac- state agencies including the teristics and needs of their juris- For more information, regarding county attorney’s offices, sher- dictions, but generally involve this press release please contact: iff’s department, local police, quickly identifying substance public defenders, probation and abusing offenders and placing Mahlon Mace, LADC treatment providers. them under strict court monitor- Fifth Judicial District ing and community supervision 507-995-2366 Earlier this year, the planning coupled with effective, long- [email protected] teams were awarded a federal term treatment services. scholarship in order to attend a The Fifth Judicial District encom- week long drug court training The drug court plans to start passes Blue Earth, Brown, Cotton- conducted by the National Drug operations in December or wood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Court Institute in Oklahoma January 2010. Lyon, Martin, City, OK. Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, “We have a good drug court Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan coun- Drug court is a nationally recog- team including law enforce- ties nized program that offers judge- ment, probation, prosecution, supervised alternatives to jail or and defense. We are all excited Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 9

Seventh Judicial District by Jan Cossette, Becker and Clay County Court Administrator

Kathy Ouren, Otter Tail/ wish her all the best in her new Administration. They began Wadena County Court Adminis- endeavor! their endeavor with a kickoff trator, is leaving the Minnesota event at State Court Administra- Court System on January 28, Rhonda Bot will be covering tive Offices on October 9, 2009, 2010, after 29 years of dedi- Wadena County and Jan Cos- and will end with graduation on cated service. sette will be covering Otter Tail June 10, 2010. County. These appointments are temporary, lasting up to 8 The EDGE nine month program months. is designed to prepare mid-level organizational leaders with criti- On December 7, Lesa Kramer, cal foundational and specialized lead worker from Stearns knowledge and skills to effec- County, joined the Finance Di- tively manage and lead their vision at State Court Adminis- staff. Congratulations on being trative Offices as a Financial selected to participate in this Analyst. It’s an 18-month mo- program. bility assignment and her pri- mary responsibility will be to Morrison County has e-citations work with counties that are im- up and running with three law plementing the auto referral to enforcement agencies: Little collections project. Falls, Randall and Royalton. Otter Tail, Wadena and Clay Lesa will also provide support counties are continuing to move to the other collections projects forward with implementing Kathy has accepted the Clerk of such as transitioning to the new e-citations.Benton, Mille Lacs, Court position for Cass County collections vendor on July 1 and Morrison, Todd and Douglas District Court in Fargo, ND. implementing the automated counties are on schedule for Her new office has 22 staff and payment file. She brings 23 auto assess. 8 chambered judges. Her first years of court experience to this project when she arrives is help- temporary position. Congratula- The Seventh Judicial District ing to plan an addition to the tions Lesa! encompasses Becker, Benton, existing courthouse. Construc- Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Mor- tion of the addition is scheduled There are four individuals from rison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, to begin this spring. the seventh participating in the and Wadena counties. Management EDGE Founda- Cass County has implemented tions Series. They are: Shelly e-citations, electronic files and Jeffers from Becker County, beginning Jan. 20th, will accept Cheryl Woehler from Benton e-filings from attorneys. Cass County, Lesa Kramer from and Traill counties are also cur- Stearns, temporarily with SCAO rently piloting Odyssey. We and Mary Stock from District Volume 1, Issue 3 Page 10

Tenth Judicial District - Washington County Moves to New Courthouse by Annette Fritz, Washington County Court Administrator employees separate from the public, secure passage for in- mates of the jail or prison sepa- rate from court employees and the public.

The second phase includes re- furbishing: five of the previous courtrooms, court administra- tion offices, judicial chambers, and conference rooms. The Washington County Courts cial staff offices, and court ad- refurbished courtrooms will be moved into a new courthouse ministration offices for crimi- designed for family and juve- August 2009. The first court nal, traffic, financial, hearing nile court with secure passage hearings were held in the new officers, file room, and Guard- for juveniles in detention. The courtrooms on August 31, ian ad Litem. refurbished office and cham- 2009. The project began in bers space will house the civil, 2007 with three phases sched- The new building includes in- family, probate and juvenile uled to be completed in early creased security measures, staff and include conference 2011. Phase one included a temporary entrance with secu- rooms for staff and administra- new building, phase two in- rity and metal screening, secu- tive offices. It will include a cludes refurbishing existing rity cameras in courtrooms and lift (dumbwaiter) to pass court space, and phase three includes public areas of the building, files from one level of the improved secure entrance and space to address increased case building to another. customer service access. load and people appearing at court, secure passage for court Continued on Page 11 During the phases of construc- tion some court staff and court records will move to temporary office locations.

The first phase was the new building, the courthouse, which is connected to the ex- isting Government Center. The new courthouse has five levels which include eight new courtrooms, four of which are high technology, an adequate number of conference rooms near each courtroom, judicial chambers which overlook the beautiful St. Croix River, judi- Page 11

Tenth Judicial District - Washington County Moves to New Courthouse

As the new court administra- tor, I joined the project just weeks before moving into the new courthouse. The move went well as a result of the ex- cellent work that had been done by the team assigned to the project. We continue to work on the next two phases of the project and look forward to a successful completion for improved court access for cus- tomers.

Washington County is the fifth largest court in the state with over 52,000 cases filed in 2008 The second phase is scheduled security checkpoint. As well, and ten chambered judges. for completion Spring 2010. community corrections offices When the project is complete, will be located within the court there will be 13 courtrooms. The third phase includes cus- area so that traffic flow will Space is shelled in for the fu- tomer service counters for all direct defendants to their of- ture addition of four court- areas of courts to be located on fices before leaving the court- rooms and judicial chambers. the entry level of the court- house. The third phase is An open house for the public house allowing for improved scheduled for completion early will be scheduled later. access to courts and manage- 2011. ment of foot traffic. It also in- cludes a new courts entrance Chris Volkers, past Washing- with the Sheriff’s Department ton County Court Administra- The Tenth Judicial District encom- security that requires all enter- tor and the management team passes Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Wash- ing the courthouse to pass did an excellent job planning ington, and Wright counties. through metal detectors and and working on the project.

MACM’s MISSION: MACM is an organization committed to the enrichment of its members through professional growth and development, opportunities, promoting advancements and innovations in court administration, and partnering with other professionals working to improve the justice system in Minnesota.