Category Archives: News

by | May 16, 2013 · 3:05 am

Same-Sex Couples Understand the Importance of Marriage…and Can Now Marry in Minnesota

Same-Sex MarriagePhew!
Same Sex Marriage is finally the Law of the Land in Minnesota!!

Families are (and should be!) celebrating, because on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed Gay Marriage into Minnesota law.
I am an attorney and mediator.  I specialize in Family Law and my job is to help people work through issues within their marriage, as well as to help dissolve them.  Obviously, I see considerable problems in marriages. However, with all the troubles that can arise within a marriage, I am still a firm believer in the institution.  In fact, I will celebrate my 14th wedding anniversary this summer. I believe everyone should have the ability to marry the person they love.
I am relieved that Minnesota has finally stepped up to the plate and no longer will deny two people who love each other the fundamental freedom of marriage. In Minnesota, we are no longer prohibiting a considerable portion of our populations’ equal rights.  Let’s just hope more states start to fall in line.
Good job, Minnesota.  It’s about time.

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by | May 8, 2013 · 3:19 pm

Same-Sex Marriage Close to Reality in Minnesota

Well, thank goodness, we appear to be very near the end of this battle for equality and social justice when it comes to same-sex marriage.  As I blogged about previously:

When Republicans pushed to amend the Minnesota Constitution to ban gay marriage, I would have liked to have heard whether anyone in the room thought to speak up and say hmmm…, are we going to lose and in the process of losing create a massive, grass-roots organization of gay rights supporters that will then pass gay rights legislation in the next legislative session?  I’m thinking that everyone was so overconfident that they never gave that a serious thought.  Well, that’s fine with me, because it is about time we had a conversation about whether it is right to deny committed gay relationships the legal recognition that they deserve.

Now, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 9, 2013, the Minnesota House is scheduled to vote to make same-sex marriage law.  The odds are apparently good that it will pass.  Then, according to the Star Trib, the Senate is expected to pass it also.  The Governor has always supported the bill and has said he will sign it into law.

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by | December 21, 2012 · 4:52 pm

Gay Marriage on Agenda for 2013 Minnesota Legislative Session

When Republicans pushed to amend the Minnesota Constitution to ban gay marriage, I would have liked to have heard whether anyone in the room thought to speak up and say hmmm…, are we going to lose and in the process of losing create a massive, grass-roots organization of gay rights supporters that will then pass gay rights legislation in the next legislative session?  I’m thinking that everyone was so overconfident that they never gave that a serious thought.  Well, that’s fine with me, because it is about time we had a conversation about whether it is right to deny committed gay relationships the legal recognition that they deserve.

Here’s an article on the upcoming gay marriage push in the 2013 Minnesota Legislature titled Minnesota’s Marriage Fight Will Flare Anew at Capital.

From the article:

Both sides of the marriage amendment fight are reuniting their troops as they prepare for what is rapidly emerging as the next frontier in the battle — a push to legalize same-sex marriage in the Legislature.

“Our intention is to make sure gay and lesbian couples have the freedom to marry after the 2013 legislative session,” said Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families. The group is reconfiguring its operation that defeated the proposed marriage amendment on Election Day.

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by | November 14, 2012 · 9:27 pm

Are DANCOS Unconstitutional? (DANCO = Domestic Abuse No Contact Order)

Well, this is really interesting from a legal perspective and it sure has huge implications for victims of domestic violence, law enforcement and those against whom Domestice Abuse No Contact Orders (DANCOS) are enforced in Minnesota.  There is a news segment on MPR News about how the issue of whether a court issuing a DANCO without any due proces to the person against whom they would be enforced is unconstitutional, and therefore any resulting DANCO violation is void.  This is a big deal!

From the article:

The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to consider the constitutionality of a state law designed to protect the victims of domestic abuse.

An attorney for Bryan Ness is challenging the law, which allows judges to impose domestic abuse no-contact order s that prevent someone suspected of abuse from contacting the victim.

Authorities say Ness, 33, struck his wife in the head several times during a January 2011, argument at their Moorhead apartment. When he appeared in court the next day to face charges for the assault, a Clay County judge ordered him not to have any contact with his wife.

Such court orders are popular with prosecutors. According to court records, Minnesota judges issued nearly 11,000 DANCO orders last year.

The news segment (audio and text) is found here” “Law Protecting Domestic Abuse Victims Challenged in [Minnesota] State Supreme Court“.

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