Criminal justice coverage in Minnesota follows the justice system as a whole — courts, sentencing, incarceration, bail, prosecution and the reform efforts that move through the legislature and the courts. Reporting reaches Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester and Duluth.
Keith Ellison and Ron Schutz are competing for Minnesota's attorney general seat as outside spending outpaces what the candidates raised together.
Live Poll
Do you think the attorney general's office is doing enough to stop fraud in Minnesota?
November 3, 2026
Wietzema, Cain Vie for Minnesota JudgeshipIncumbent Judge Christina Wietzema faces attorney Christopher Cain in a contested race for Minnesota's Fifth District Court seat 5.
October 30, 2026
Minnesota Voters Face Three Contested Judicial RacesWhile most judicial seats remain unopposed, voters in select Minnesota districts will choose between multiple candidates this fall.
October 29, 2026
Minnesota Supreme Court Grants New Trial in Murder CaseThe court ruled that erroneous jury instructions in a 2024 trial require a new proceeding for Michael LaFlex.
October 27, 2026
Minnesota Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Ayodele OjoThe court issued the indefinite suspension following findings of harassment and discriminatory conduct.
October 26, 2026
Demuth Declines to Rule Out Chauvin PardonThe Minnesota House Speaker did not commit to her position on a potential pardon for convicted murderer Derek Chauvin.
October 26, 2026
Former Judges Urge Dismissal of Minnesota Judicial ComplaintA group of 174 former judges petitions to dismiss a misconduct complaint filed against two Minnesota federal judges.
October 15, 2026
Minnesota Supreme Court Denies Parental Rights AppealThe state court rejected a petition to review a lower court ruling that terminated a father's parental rights.
October 13, 2026
Minnesota Appeals Court Affirmed Murder ConvictionThe court ruled that a district judge correctly denied a defendant's request to move the trial due to local publicity.
October 12, 2026
Minnesota Supreme Court Suspended Attorney WassenbergThe state supreme court issued a 60-day suspension to attorney Jessica Wassenberg following disciplinary proceedings.
October 7, 2026
Minnesota Released Audit on Public Defense CaseloadsA new audit reveals Minnesota’s public defense caseload standards have remained unchanged since 1995.
The reporting tracks court proceedings and sentencing outcomes, prison conditions and populations, prosecutorial policy changes and the reform legislation that moves through Saint Paul. Minnesota's healthcare economy, arts community and politically engaged population each shape the policy debates about criminal justice that surface most consistently in the legislature. Pretrial detention and bail practices have been subjects of sustained legislative attention, and the implementation of any changes generates coverage that continues well past the initial vote. Wrongful conviction reviews and changes to charging guidelines produce ongoing coverage arcs that extend across administrations.
