How State Prosecutors Can Overcome Federal Obstruction in Minnesota

Every officer-involved shooting resulting in death, must be fully, fairly, and professionally investigated, whether by state law-enforcement authorities or federal law-enforcement authorities. Of course, that is NOT what's happening in connection with ICE officer Jonathan Ross's fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota.The federal government is abdicating its responsibility to investigate the officer-involved shooting. But what's worse, the feds are also obstructing the State's ability to investigate the homicide by refusing to provide important evidence, like Ross's gun, the ballistics evidence, and Renee Good's car - which, in a very real sense, constitutes the crime scene.There is a way for the state authorities to aggressively investigate the homicide of Renee Good, and use several legal vehicles to wrestle away from the federal government the evidence that is necessary to conduct a full investigation.Dave Aaronberg and Glenn Kirschner co-authored a piece discussing the legal tools available to Minnesota prosecutors to move forward in the investigation of the killings in Minnesota. That piece is titled, "A Blueprint for State Justice in the Wake of Federal Obstruction."Here's a link to the piece: https://open.substack.com/pub/glennki...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It has become painfully clear that Donald Trump's pardons are a celebration of lawlessness. But the 12 new pardons he has issued are not JUST a celebration of lawlessness. In a very real sense, they are an endorsement of fraud, theft, embezzlement, and all manner of financial crimes. Glenn once again sat down with former DOJ Pardon Attorney and former federal public defender Liz Oyer to discuss the searing injustice of the way Donald Trump wields the presidential pardon power.Find Liz at: www.lawyeroyer.comFind Glenn on Substack at: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Trump-appointed Judge David Novak issued a scathing order declaring that Trump flunky Lindsey Halligan was "masquerading" as US Attorney – having no lawful authority to call herself a US Attorney – Lindsay Halligan quit the Department of Justice. Glenn sat down with Adam Klasfeld of All Rise News to discuss Judge Novak's order that led to Halligan resigning from the DOJ.Find Adam at: www.allrisenews.comFind Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's estimated that there are between 25,000 and 30,000 judicial law clerks in courts all across the United States. These positions generally are filled by young lawyers fresh out of law school.This may be a little known fact, but federal workplace protection laws - for example, prohibiting workplace harassment - do not apply to, and therefore do not protect, judicial law clerks. That doesn't sound right, does it?One former judicial law clerk, Aliza Schatzman, decided to do something about it and founded a nonprofit organization called the Legal Accountability Project (LAP).I sat down for an extended conversation with Aliza to discuss her experience as a judicial law clerk that led her to create the Legal Accountability Project. Find LAP at: www.legalaccountabilityproject.orgFind Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are living in difficult and dangerous times. The rule of law is under attack. Some of our most basic values are under attack – things like decency, civility, and diversity. Our Constitution is under attack. But through it all, we've had some remarkable, dedicated public servants who have fought mightily for the rule of law, and for accountability for those who violate our nation's laws - including when those violating the law are in our own government. Some of those dedicated public servants have decided to band together and launch a new law firm. Those individuals are Tim Heaphy, Jack Smith, David Harbach, and Thomas Windom. I recently sat down with some of the founding partners of Heaphy, Smith, Harbach, and Windom to discuss with them why they decided to launch this new endeavor. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substck.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a surprise to many when The New York Times reported that Renee Good suffered four gunshot wounds at the hands of ICE officer Jonathan Ross. These finding were curious for two reasons: first, the video footage seems to show only three shots fired by Ross, and second, two of the bullet wounds were listed as being in the right, chest area of Ms. Good. Glenn does a deep dive tutorial on how gunshot wounds to a victim, as well as the trajectory of wound paths through the victim's body, often can be confusing and seem inconsistent with other evidence in a case. Additionally, he explains how a victim's body can have more bullet entry wounds than the number of shots fired. He also discusses the topic of autopsies and autopsy reports, the findings of medical examiners/forensic pathologists regarding cause and manner of death rulings, and the importance of a medical examiner's testimony in a murder trial, all from the perspective and experience of a career homicide prosecutor. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not long after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell made Trump look foolish on national TV by telling him he was wrong about cost overruns for a renovation project, DC US Attorney Janine Pirro started issuing subpoenas, making it seem like she was launching a criminal investigation of Jerome Powell. Some have suggested that this apparent retaliation is because Powell refused Trump's pressure to cut interest rates. Yet Powell cut rates three times last year! Could this latest move be yet another vindictive prosecution like the ones Trump, Bondi, and Halligan unsuccessfully launched against James Comey and Letitia James? Follow Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the first of two new legal developments, a federal judge in New York wants an explanation as to why the Department of Justice has failed - in violation of federal law - to fully disclose the Epstein files.In a second development, disqualified US Attorney Lindsey Halligan has filed what may be the single most inappropriate, disrespectful pleading ever filed by any Department of Justice lawyer.Glenn was joined by Adam Klasfeld of All Rise News to discuss these two important legal developments.Find Adam at: www.allrisenews.comFind Glenn on Substack at: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A total of ten Department of Justice prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington, DC, have resigned over the unethical conduct of Donald Trump's dirty DOJ leadership in connection with the fatal shooting by an ICE officer of Renee Good. Glenn does a deep dive into this remarkable legal development. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Trump administration brought in a federal prosecutor named Robert McBride to serve as Lindsay Halligan's number two guy at the eastern District of Virginia, United States Attorney's office. New reporting shows that McBride has been fired, as related in the following headline from MS Now:"Trump DOJ fired prosecutor who declined to pursue James Comey case."Glenn does a deep dive into what may be behind this recent firing.Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.