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THOMAS M. SWEENEY <br />JAMES J. O'CONNOR <br />JOHN H. LeMAY <br />GEORGE F. BORER <br />SWEENEY, O'CONNOR & LeMAY <br />PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br />(612) 222 -2541 <br />July 8, 1982 <br />City Council <br />515 Little Canada Road <br />Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 <br />Re: Prosecution of Gross Misdemeanors <br />Our File No. 4630 <br />Dear Mayor and Council Members: <br />SUITE 350 <br />NORTHERN FEDERAL BUILDING <br />SIXTH AND WABASHA <br />ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA55102 <br />Traditionally the Ramsey County Attorney has been responsible <br />for the prosecution of all gross misdemeanor and felony crimes <br />committed within the county. The city attorneys have been responsible <br />for the prosecution of all misdemeanor crimes committed within the <br />geographic limits of their respective municipalities. <br />Unfortunately, the 1982 Legislature has changed the rules. <br />Please find enclosed a copy of Chapter 592, 1982 Laws, which <br />provides that the city attorneys shall be responsible for the <br />prosecution of gross misdemeanor violations, except where the <br />county attorney is specifically designated by law as the pro- <br />secutor. There are relatively few "county attorney" gross misde- <br />meanors. <br />The Legislature, by Chapter 398, 1982 Laws, broadened the <br />jurisdiction of the Municipal Court of Ramsey County to include <br />gross misdemeanors. The effective date of Chapter 398 is January <br />1, 1983. However, Judge Harold Schultz, Chief Judge of the Second <br />Judicial District, has ordered that the Municipal Court judges <br />preside over gross misdemeanor cases, commencing July 1, 1982. <br />A copy of this Order is enclosed for your review. <br />The result of all of this legislative and judicial action is <br />that our office is responsible for the prosecution of gross misde- <br />meanor offenses committed within the City of Little Canada as of <br />July 1, 1982. The Ramsey County Attorney would still be responsible <br />for prosecution of election law violations and practicing law without <br />a license. A partial list of gross misdemeanor offenses is enclosed <br />for your review. The most common offenses will be the gross misde- <br />36, <br />