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Prosecutors in the George Floyd case took the unusual step Thursday of asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to intervene after a lower court twice refused their request to hold one trial in the summer for all four ex-Minneapolis police officers charged in the case.
The strongly worded request from Attorney General Keith Ellison s office accused Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill of violating state law and abusing his discretion when he ordered that one trial would start in March and a second would start five months later.
Ellison s office, which is leading the prosecution, had argued for one trial in the summertime when more people would be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Marcel Leshaun Thompson, 31, may not apply for reinstatement until Jan. 21, 2024.
Thompson was convicted in August 2019 of making terroristic threats and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, both felonies. He received a stayed prison sentence two months later and was placed on five years’ probation.
“I think the three-year discipline is representative of the conviction of a felony involving crimes of violence,” said Lawyers Professional Responsibility Office Director Susan Humiston.
Her office could not verify that the lawyer under suspension is the same Marcel Thompson who, according to the city of Minneapolis website, served on the city’s Human Rights commission in 2019.
The Mitchell Hamline School of Law is advertising a newly created position of vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. The school announced the opening in a Jan. 14 Twitter post.
The position has been a topic of discussion since at least July 1, when Dean Anthony Niedwiecki sent an email to law-school community members during his first day on the job. In it, he talked about his reasons for creating the position and the importance he places on it.
“The George Floyd murder in our own community has highlighted the need for Mitchell Hamline to have a more visible and active role in fighting systemic racism in our community and provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, staff and faculty,” the email said. The school’s press office shared it with Minnesota Lawyer.
Elizabeth J. Roff has joined Stellpflug Law PLLC as a partner.
With more than 10 years of courtroom experience, Roff has taken the lead on more than 400 civil matters involving commercial losses, with a focus on construction defect and product liability disputes. Her career highlights include numerous successful trial verdicts, settlement awards and procedural dismissals.
Roff co-authored “Minnesota Commercial General Liability Insurance Policy: Annotated,” cited as authority by the Minnesota Court of Appeals in
Grinnell Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ripley, No. A09-179 (Minn. Ct. App., Dec. 29, 2009). She is also the primary author of the Post Loss Duties of an Insured chapter of the Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Deskbook.