Minnesota Agencies
Information on Minnesota State Agencies, Boards, Task Forces, and Commissions
Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Children's Justice Initiative Parent Legal Representation Workgroup
Active dates:2008
Authority:
Established by the Minnesota Judicial Council
Function: In July 2008, the Minnesota Judicial Council approved the establishment of a Workgroup to study and report on legal representation of parents in Child In Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS), termination of parental rights (TPR), and other permanency cases.
History:
The Workgroup met in August, September, and October 2008, during which time the members considered the statement of the problem; reviewed the work and reports of prior committees and workgroups related to this topic, including the Final Report of the CHIPS Public Defender Workgroup dated March 16, 2006; reviewed parent legal representation models from other states; and discussed short-term and long-term strategies to address the problem.
Membership:
Chair: Hon. Helen Meyer, Associate Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
Members:
- James Backstrom, Dakota County Attorney; Minnesota County Attorney Association
- Judith Brumfield, Scott County Human Services; Minnesota Association of County Social Services Agencies
- Marvin Davis, Adoptions Operations, Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Michael Ford, Quinlivan & Hughes; Minnesota State Bar Association
- Rep. Debra Hilstrom, Minnesota House of Representatives
- Hon. Jon Maturi, Chief Judge 9th Judicial District, Itasca County
- Sen. Mee Moua, Minnesota Senate
- Irene Opsahl, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis
- Judy Peterson, Guardian Ad Litem Program Manager, 2nd Judicial District
- Hon. John Rodenberg, 5th Judicial District, Brown County
- Jessica Ryan, ICWA Attorney, Bluedog, Paulson & Small, P.L.L.P.
- Nancy Schouweiler, Dakota County Commissioner; Association of Minnesota Counties
- Hon. Terri Stoneburner, Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Erin Sullivan Sutton, Child Safety and Permanency, Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Hon. Judith Tilsen, 2nd Judicial District, Ramsey County
- John Tuma, Metropolitan Inter-County Association
- William Ward, Chief Public Defender, 10th Judicial District Staff Attorney
- Judith Nord, Staff Attorney, State Court Administrator’s Office
Note: The Legislative Reference Library may have additional reports on or by this group available through our catalog.
Record last updated:
05/27/2021
All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These
materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.