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Twin Cities metro-based military veterans with active misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, or non-felony warrants outstanding can have their cases heard in a special court proceeding May 26. Volunteer defense attorneys will be available to assist veterans. The hearings will take place at the Minnesota Judicial Center in St. Paul.
The special court hearings are part of Minnesota StandDown, a two-day effort to help veterans with legal, housing, tax, and other issues. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).
MACV says their goal with the event is to bring many services to one location to make them more accessible to veterans who otherwise may not seek out services or take advantage of benefits due to them. MACV hosts a number of StandDown events throughout the state during the year.
The Metro StandDown will include meals, clothing, assistance with VA benefits, tax assistance, housing assistance, employment counseling, driver and vehicle license assistance, and more. Veterans wanting to participate should register May 25 at Fort Snelling Army Reserve Complex. Free parking and a shuttle from the light rail platform will be available.
Judges who are donating their time for the special court hearings May 26 include: Robert R. Benson (Preston), James E. Dehn (Isanti), Kathryn D. Messerich (Hastings), Robert G. Rancourt (Center City), John P. Smith (Walker), and the Renee L. Worke (Minnesota Court of Appeals).
“I continue to be inspired by the commitment of the district court judges in supporting our service members through voluntary participation in StandDown Courts, and by establishing longer range therapeutic treatment courts throughout our state,” said Court of Appeals Judge Renee Worke. “StandDown Court is a proven effective way of reducing the number of outstanding warrants and provides vets an opportunity to deal with lower level pending issues of a criminal nature.”
“Veterans have unique and specific needs that are not commonly addressed in traditional courts. By establishing therapeutic treatment courts in our state we can identify care support services and put vets in touch with VA services that can help them deal with issues that are barriers in their lives,” Worke said.
What: Special Veterans Court Calendar
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Where: Minnesota Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN
For more information about MACV, visit www.mac-v.org.
