Letter to the publisher: It is time to reform the punishment and the bank – Austin Daily Herald

The criminal justice system in Minnesota was founded in 1857. There were 42 lawyers in the state. Lawyers were practicing “law” – any kind of law. Today the Minnesota Bar recognizes eleven specialties. A lawyer can be quite good in two or three, perhaps four different types; The only thing I can guarantee you is: when a lawyer says that he practices all kinds of quite; They conduct misconduct every day.

78 percent of Minnesota cases are criminal matters. We have 283 privies in the state. Thirty -nine percent only had experience as a prosecutor before they became a judge. Imagine you are an innocent defendant who looks against such a judge. Thirty -four percent have never published criminal proceedings before they became judges. Imagine you are an innocent defendant or the victim of a terrible crime. Eighteen percent were only defenders before they became a judge. Imagine you are the victim of a terrible crime. Only 14% of the judges are very experienced and had the look of being neutral and distant. Only 1% had an appeal experience. Only 0.003% had legal training above the base -JD

This is not just a Minnesota problem. The states recognize that their systems were built 150 years ago. They divide their civil and criminal courts; their middle appeal courts; And ensure that your top dishes have a mix of civil and criminal experience. It is time for Minnesota to move into the 21st century. We need a constitutional change and legal changes that bring experience both to punishment and the bank. We need progress on the basis of merits and the decisions of the legislators of the people and not in the appointment of friends of the governors. People earn the best protectors. The defendant deserves the best defense. The accused, the victim and the people deserve very experienced, referees.

Joel A. Novak, LL.M.

Alexandria, MN

Novak served as a prosecutor

Defense lawyer,

Prosecutor of the government,

Commissioner for Court of Appeal,

Received a LL.M. According to criminal law and

Boss, prosecutor