Ep. 17 // Minnesota Supreme Court strikes a blow to the ‘defund the police’ movement

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Attorney James Dickey of the Upper Midwest Law Center joined Liz Collin Reports to explain what comes next after last week’s win at the Minnesota Supreme Court. 

The court ruled last week that Minneapolis failed in its duty to employ a minimum of 731 sworn officers as required by the city charter. 

“It was a huge win for the people of Minneapolis. What the Supreme Court essentially did here was say that Mayor [Jacob] Frey has to have at least 0.0017 police officers per resident in Minneapolis on the police force and that translates to 731 in 2020 numbers,” Dickey explained. 

The court has asked Mayor Frey to show “proof that the City actually employed 731 sworn officers or explain why [he] could not satisfy that duty.” 

“They can technically get off the hook so to speak if they can show that they have a valid excuse  for not complying with the writ of mandamus. But they have to come forward with evidence to show that. They have to show why it is that they have not been able to hire enough officers,” Dickey explained. 

Dickey also discussed the Upper Midwest Law Center’s new lawsuit against the Walz administration’s clean car rules. 

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