Neighborhood Justice Center, Inc., 1973 – 1975
St. Paul, Minnesota
Executive Director/Chief Attorney
Legal Assistance of Ramsey County, Inc., 1968 - 1975
St. Paul, Minnesota
Staff Attorney, Directed Selby/Dale Office
Chief Attorney for Misdemeanor
Public Defender Program
West Publishing Company, 1964 - 1968
Eagan, Minnesota
Accounts Manager
Minnesota District Court Judges Association, 1996 -Present
Adjunct Professor, Litigation Practice, 1992 - Present
Hamline University, School of Law
Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, 1978 - 1988
William Mitchell College of Law
Office of Ramsey County Public Defender,1976-1994
part-time public defender representing indigents charged with crimes
Minnesota State Bar Association: Business Law Section,
Civil Litigation Section, Corporate Counsel Section, General
Practice Section, Family Law Section, Criminal Law Section,
Lawyers’ Advertising Committee.
Ramsey County Bar Association: Criminal Law Committee,
Continuing Legal Education Committee (past member),
Jurisprudence and Law (past member), Ethics (past member,
past chair), Sub-Committee Adult and Youth Corrections,
Executive Council.
Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board,1985- 1991
Member Board of Directors
Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association
American Bar Association (past member)
Young Lawyers Committee
Minnesota Public Defender’s Association
Secretary (1975 - 1976)
Vice-President (1976 - 1977)
National College of Criminal Defense
Lawyers and Public Defenders (past member)
Federal Public Defender’s Office
Panel Member (formerly, Community Defender
Organization of Minnesota)
American Arbitration Association
Panel Member
St. Paul Human Rights Department
Hearing Law Officer
State of Minnesota, Bureau of Mediation Services
Arbitrator
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Civic Activities (Past):
Project Remand, Inc., Member, Board of Directors
Maple Hills of Red Wing, Inc., Member, Board of Directors
Greenvale Place of Northfield, Inc., Member, Board of Directors
Community Development Corporation of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Member, Board Directors
Pupils Problems Committee, Member, St. Paul School Board
Personal: Married to Marilyn J. Fetsch; Children: Anne Horner, John
M. Fetsch, Timothy J. Fetsch
Hobbies: Hockey, Reading
Special Recognition:
Voted one of the most courteous lawyers by the October-November, 1991, Minnesota
Lawyer, "The Most Courteous".
Voted one of the best lawyers in Minnesota by the August, 1994 Law & Politics
"Super Lawyers 1994".
Winner, 1995 Ramsey County Judicial Plebiscite for the Second Judicial District.
Voted one of "Leading Minnesota Attorneys" for Criminal Law: DWI
and Misdemeanors, Criminal Law: Felonies and White Collar Crime, 1996.
Voted one of "100 Who Make a Difference" in the William Mitchell
College of Law Centennial Celebration Publication, 2000.
Candidacy Questions:
1. Why did you originally apply (or run) for a position as a judge?
After practicing as a trial lawyer for twenty-six years I thought I had gained
sufficient experience to manage litigation, which is the primary obligation
of any judicial officer, whether Referee or District Court Judge.
2. Why should voters select you rather than your opponent(s) in the upcoming election?
Because I have demonstrated the ability to manage litigation in such a way so as to achieve prompt, fair and just results.
3. What are the major issues facing the court on which you wish to serve? How can these realistically be addressed?
There is a wealth of social, psychological and psychiatric research which could be incorporated into judicial practices. To accomplish this end foundations and other organizations have encouraged the establishment of specialized courts, such as, substance abuse courts, mental illness courts, etc. These efforts have not been able to address the broad range of needs because they are focused on criminal offenders, and only a limited number of those. To respond to the myriad of problems that addictions and mental illness cause, a broader approach must be devised and funded in which each judge has the ability and resources to identify the litigant/participant’s addiction and/or mental illness problem and respond appropriately.
4. What are some of your accomplishments during your tenure as a judge of which you are most proud?
I take pride in managing litigation in a manner that promotes and results in a prompt, fair and equitable result for each litigant.
5. Do you believe it is good policy to discuss disputed legal and political issues during judicial campaigns? If so, what issues do you plan to discuss and why? If not, why shouldn't such issues be discussed?
It is not good policy nor is it consistent with proper judicial conduct to discuss and opine about disputed issues upon which the judge will be required to rule. An opinion expressed before the judge has all the facts and all the legal arguments serves no useful purpose judicially. It does not inspire confidence in the fairness of the proceeding and is inconsistent with the requirement of an open mind.
6. What else, if anything, would you like voters to know about your candidacy that you have not discussed so far?
The opportunity to serve as judge is a privilege and a trust which I have and will always honor.
Uncontested
Races
