Anoka County judge censured, suspendedAn Anoka County judge has been publicly reprimanded and ordered to serve a 9-month, unpaid suspension for judicial misconduct.
An Anoka County judge has been publicly reprimanded and ordered to serve a 9-month, unpaid suspension for judicial misconduct.
The Minnesota Supreme Court handed down the punishment, which included a censure, for Judge John P. Dehen this week.
RELATED: State board alleges ‘pattern’ of prejudice by Anoka County judge
5 INVESTIGATES first reported on allegations of a “pattern” of prejudice by Dehen in July 2024.
Following that report, a state panel recommended a 6-month suspension for Dehen, but Minnesota’s high court decided the judge’s conduct warranted more than that.
RELATED: Panel recommends Anoka Co. judge serve 6-month unpaid suspension for misconduct
Panel recommends Anoka Co. Judge serve 6-month unpaid suspension for misconductPanel recommends Anoka Co. Judge serve 6-month unpaid suspension for misconduct
“His actions wasted precious judicial resources and disrespected the rule of law and the administration of justice that he took an oath to uphold,” the Supreme Court wrote in its order, adding that Dehen “damaged the professional function of the Judicial Branch” and “exhibited little if any remorse” for his actions.
Court documents state that Dehen tried to rehire his court reporter at a higher salary than allowed, held a remote hearing from his moving car and allowed his personal beliefs on immigration to “influence his decisions” on guardianship cases for at-risk juveniles.
His conduct led to several of his rulings being overturned.
When Dehen gave his side to the state panel, he admitted “poor judgment” in holding court from his car but defended his guardianship rulings, telling the panel that he “merely made an error of law.”
The Supreme Court decided that Dehen weaponized his office and wrote that a suspension and censure was necessary to “fulfill our obligation to ensure that the misconduct is not repeated again, and to deter others from similar behavior.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS tried to reach Dehen for comment but was unsuccessful.
Read the Supreme Court’s full opinion below or by clicking here.
DehenSuspensionDownload
The post Minnesota Supreme Court censures, suspends county judge 9 months for misconduct first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.
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