Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Matt Sepic and The Associated Press

Minnesota public defenders reject state contract offer, OK strike

Veterans' legal issues are heard
Hennepin County public defender Kellie Charles speaks during a court hearing in St. Paul in May 2010. Around 470 public defenders and 200 support staff across Minnesota have rejected the state's latest contract offer and authorized a strike.
Jeffrey Thompson | MPR News 2010

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Updated: 4:40 p.m.

Around 470 public defenders and 200 support staff across Minnesota have rejected the state's latest contract offer and authorized a strike.

Ten days of mediation must take place before employees could walk off the job. Union leaders said Thursday it would be the first time in Minnesota that public defenders and their staffs went on strike and they were anxious to avoid one.

The two sides have been haggling over pay disparities with other agencies, staffing levels and other issues. The public defenders say it's hurting their clients, most of whom are indigent and minorities.

“All we want is to be able to do our job to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, we cannot do that until we have fair pay, benefits and working conditions that retain good, well-trained attorneys,” Kyle MacArthur, a public defense investigator said in a statement released by Teamsters Local 320.

Union negotiators had urged members to vote no on the offer from the Minnesota Board of Public Defense.

"The negotiating committee felt [the offer] did not address any of our priorities — financial, pay scale disparities, the parity that we've been trying to reach with prosecutors and attorney generals, the caseload issues we've been talking about as well as the workplace safety, health and COVID issues. Really none of them were addressed," Christopher Lynch, an assistant public defender, said in a Feb. 22 video.

The Board of Public Defense said in a statement it agrees that public defenders are underpaid and offices understaffed, but the board is “constrained in its negotiations by the resources provided by the state to provide these constitutionally mandated services across Minnesota."

Minnesota is one of 26 states that funds its public defense department at the state level.