A U.S. District Judge in Sioux City, Iowa, on June 16, 2010, granted a direct verdict to Paul and Alexander Dorr in a First Amendment trial.  The case involved the Osceola County Sherrif denying conceal and carry gun permit applications to Paul Dorr because of the plaintiff's political association with the Osceola County Taxpayers Association.

Attorney Erick Kaardal explains, "This is a great neopopulist victory.  For a federal judge to recognize that government officials can not administratively punish the people for their political views is a blow to the government and great victory for the people.  It should give the people hope that the playing field can be levelled and that the people can manage their government -- without fear of retribution."

As soon as the written opinion is issued, it will be linked to this webpage.

Neopopulism.org is an anti-ideological and anti-partisan website.  Nonetheless, it is delightful to see ideological websites -- left or right, quoting this website.  Another example on a leftish blog was found here.  The website is called Democracy for California. 

Attorney Erick Kaardal debated judicial elections on May 11, 2010 at Crave Restaurant, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.  The other participants were former Governor Al Quie, Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry Anderson and Minnesota GOP chairman Tony Sutton.  The sponsor was Americas Future Foundation.  The promotional flyer can be found here.

Kaardal commented, "I think the neopopulist argument on judicial elections carried the day.  Thee people understod that they must keep their democratic means, including judicial elections, in order to manage government.  Otherwise the government will manage the people."

The Sun Newspapers covered the Court of Appeals' decision in the St. Anthony School District case.  The article can be found here.

The Winona Daily News reports that a landowners' group in Houston County has threatened to sue Houston County over land use regulations.  The article can be found here.

On April 20, 2010, the Minnesota Court of Appeals published a decision which will lead to Minnesota's public schools being required to comply with Minnesota's Campaign Financial Reports Act and Fair Campaign Practices Act.

The published decision affirmed the Office of Administrative Hearing's dismissal of the complaint on technical grounds.  However, the Court of Appeals opinion holds that a school district or a school board may be a "committee" for purposes of Minnesota's campaign laws if it has "acted to promote or defeat a ballot question."

Attorney Erick Kaardal responds, "Good government requires change over the short term and long term.  We thank the Minnesota Court of Appeals for recognizing today in a published decision that public schools and schools board are subject to Minnesota's campaign laws when they act to promote or defeat a ballot question.  Although my clients are disappointed that the Court dismissed their claim, they are looking forward to seeing the law enforced in the future based on the Court of Appeals' decision published today."

The Star Tribune's front page covered the U.S. Supreme Court's denial of the petition for writ of certiorari in the case Wolfchild, et al. v. United States.  The article written by Kevin Diaz can be found here. 

Attorney Erick Kaardal comments, "My clients are very encouraged by the media coverage and interest in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear the Wolfchild case.  Since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in the decision which we were appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, actually remanded the case for further proceedings in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, we will continue the litigation there.  We are very confident that the Department of the Interior's policies will get further review in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims."

On April 19, 2010, the United States Supreme Court denied the Mdewakanton Dakota Oyate's petition for discretionary review.

Attorney Erick Kaardal comments, "We are disappointed with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision.  However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit did remand the case for further proceedings to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.  My clients will now pursue our remedies against the United States there."

Scotus Blog, the # 1 website covering the U.S. Supreme Court, has identified the Wolfchild case as a petition with a reasonable chance of being granted at the April 16, 2010 private conference of the Supreme Court of the United States.  The cite to the Wolfchild petition can be found here.

Attorney Erick Kaardal responds, "We are pleased with the Scotus Blog citation.  It shows that our case is worthy for U.S. Supreme Court review."

Customarily, the U.S. Supreme Court issues an order disposing of petitions on the Monday following the Friday's private conference. So, the order is expected on Monday, April 19th.

The Pioneer Press covered the March 24, 2010 hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Donovon Frank on the Muslim students' motion to intervene in the Minnesota ACLU lawsuit against Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy.  The article can be found here.

Erick Kaardal, who represents the students and parents, comments, "My clients, many of whom are immigrants, are appreciative of the United States District Court and its hearing yesterday.  After the hearing, we discussed how wonderful America is that even immigrants can be heard in a federal court case.  My clients and I have confidence that the Court will review the arguments and make its decision in a good way."