Sweeps Week Story

Judge Quinn sat for sixteen years on the Minnesota Trial Court Bench.  During eight of those sixteen years he was elected assistant Chief and Chief Judge by his forty fellow judges.

The TV story lists complaints made against him in those sixteen years.  All of these complaints were investigated, considered and dismissed by the Judicial Board. Judge Quinn never had a complaint against him upheld during his sixteen years of service.

The sweeps week story does not tell the whole story.

• The Court reporter who accused him of improper influence was fired by Judge Quinn years before for insubordinate behavior and untimely work.   Her complaint was investigated, considered, and dismissed.
• The person who made two separate complaints of hostile work environment was the spouse of a person Judge Quinn and his predecessor had to discipline.   Both complaints were investigated.   Neither investigation found Judge Quinn had created a hostile work environment.
• As Chief Judge of Minnesota's second largest Judicial District, Judge Quinn had to address and resolve difficult situations. Judges were
  • required to undergo substantial anger management therapy as a result of their behavior
  • had overwhelming numbers of racial bias complaints
  • kept loaded guns on the bench
  • assaulted and frightened staff
  • failed to do their work in a timely way
  • substance abuse
  • intoxication
  • threatened suicide in the courthouse
  • were abusive to lawyers and parties from the bench
  • many other complaints
    
• Chief Judge Quinn attempted to resolve these situations with primary consideration for any person aggrieved by a Judges actions and to direct the Judge toward positively modifying their behavior.  These matters were not addressed publicly.
• Judge Quinn always says that the vast majority of judges are fine people who work very, very hard.  It is a high stress job and the humanity that all of us bear is imperfect for each person at some times in their life.
• Finally after Judge Quinn's retiring from the bench as a result of difficulties following a heart bypass and diabetes, the Judicial Board sent their entire file on Judge Quinn to the Lawyers Board for consideration and findings. 
• The Lawyers Board found that all of the old complaints had been previously considered and dismissed.   They "admonished" Judge Quinn for his confrontation with another judge.  Judge Quinn admitted this behavior.  

Admonition