January 31, 2024, Minnesota Supreme Court Update:

Minnesota Supreme Court Releases One Criminal Law Opinion and Grants Review of Three Criminal Cases:

Minnesota Supreme Court Opinion:

State v. Segura, A22-0163 (Minn. Jan. 31, 2024),

In State v. Segura, A22-0163 (Minn. Jan. 31, 2024), the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed Segura’s aiding and abetting first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder convictions because the State failed to prove Segura’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  Specifically, the supreme court concluded that the State’s circumstantial evidence did not disprove the reasonable theory that Segura did not intend for her conduct aid in a murder.

The supreme court also reversed Segura’s aiding and abetting felony murder and kidnapping convictions and remanded for a new trial because the district court provided the jury with an erroneous aiding and abetting jury instruction.  The court concluded that it was reversible plain error for the court to provide the jury with a hybrid accomplice liability instruction that the court had previously stated was improper.

OPA220163-013124.pdf (mncourts.gov)

Minnesota Supreme Court Grants Three Petitions for Review:

State v. Garner, A22-0426 (Minn. App. Sep. 18, 2023)

In State v. Garner, the supreme court granted review to determine if defense counsel’s failure to investigate whether driving with a schedule II controlled substance in one’s system is a crime—it is not a crime—before the client pleads guilty to the most serious charged crime constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel?

In the Matter of Welfare of C.T.B, A23-0495 (Minn. App. Nov. 13, 2023)

In In the Matter of the Welfare of C.T.B., the supreme court granted review to determine whether it is lawful for officers to stop and frisk an individual based on

1) his proximity to a man who they suspected recently brandished a firearm and 2) non-particularized knowledge that criminals may pass off a weapon to avoid detection?

State v. Baker, A22-1283 (Minn. App. Nov. 20, 2023)

In State v. Baker, the Minnesota Supreme Court granted review to decide whether the district court denied Baker’s constitutional right to present a defense, and commit reversible error, by refusing to instruct the jury on defense of self and others?