Was a Presiding Judge at Hennepin County Family

Gauge Toddrick Due south. Barnette was elected principal estimate of Hennepin County Commune Courtroom in May. His term began on July 1, 2020. He is the first chief judge of color in Minnesota. Judge Barnette was appointed to the Hennepin County bench in 2006, and previously served as banana main guess.

This interview took place on May 29th, iv days after the death of George Floyd in South Minneapolis and in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Information technology was conducted via Zoom with THL Committee Chair Ayah Helmy, Effect Editor Judge JaPaul Harris, and Managing Editor Nick Hansen.  It has been edited for length and clarity.

Tin can you describe the role of the Master Judge?

I would say the first lodge of business that I had to do was to select who are going to be the presiding judges in our divisions—who is going to be the presiding guess and the assistant presiding judge in family court, civil, criminal, juvenile. Probate/mental health is a lilliputian fleck different because that is what we call one of our specialty courts.

I besides have the duties to engage the judges who are going to exist the chairs of our standing committees. And so we accept the budget, judicial education, equal justice committee, past-laws, and facilities committee, and I have to appoint the chairs at that place. I can as well determine what division people are in. Of class, I'll have to deal with any issues or complaints that might come up for our branch. I'll also sit down on the statewide judicial council and be a representative for our district there.

Practice y'all have the autonomy to make up one's mind what your office is going to look like versus fitting within a certain box based on what your predecessors accept done?

I call up where I'll probably be different than some of the other chief judges for Hennepin County is that I'll be more visible with our staff because I tend to walk around the buildings. I'll probably be more visible out doing other things in the community, beyond the "Hey, can you talk at this Rotary Order?" I think information technology volition be of import for me to be bachelor to some of the communities that are afflicted by a lot of what we do in the courthouse. We see a lot folks who are disadvantaged. They have mistrust of the system. And I think information technology's going to be important for me, when they invite me to come out, that I go, even if it'southward in a situation where they're not particularly addicted of seeing judges. It'south of import that we be there and tell them what our roles are and what nosotros practise.

Given what you just said, and the context of where nosotros are at present, that's probably going to be more important than ever, bridging that gap betwixt the judiciary and the public or the community. What'south your vision for making that happen?

There'due south a couple of things that I have in listen. And in that location'south a couple of judges that I talked to.

I want 1 of the judges to be heavily involved with bringing diversity to our organizations. I want to exist able to increment the diversity of our staff and that's the courtroom staff, that'south the judicial staff, and the judges. And so I experience like in guild to practice that, nosotros're going to have to do stuff that a lot of people don't like. And that is to actually wait at the data and expect at where are we? In Hennepin County if you said, "Judge, have yous increased the diversity of your organization? Or how has it increased over the final five years?" I would have to tell you, I don't know! Because nobody really talks well-nigh the numbers. Nobody really talks about the information.

I want measurable goals for us. I don't want to say oh, we want variety, we desire to increase diversity and then not know if nosotros've done it. That'due south going to exist important. I want to know that at the end of the day, if we've only increased information technology two per centum, I want to know that nosotros tried 150 percent. Also, a lot of times we focus on diversity for the judges and we're non focusing on enough multifariousness for our staff. People walk into the courthouse and they need to see people that await like them. Information technology's so of import that nosotros hire more people. And the only way nosotros're going to do that is if we go out into high schools, into the communities, and exercise that.

I accept some other judge who I want to be more of a liaison with all the bar associations. I want a estimate that can really be focusing on, "Hey, this is what Hennepin County is doing in this area" and really focus in with the bar and tell them this is what nosotros are doing.

And simply so that the bar associations would know, you can become in bear upon with Judge Barnette, just you tin [also] talk to this estimate who is a liaison and can piece of work with you. And that judge can be responsible and helpful in diverseness and getting that message to the bar associations. Where the other approximate is working to become our message out in the community.

We take our typical institutional issues that nosotros've e'er had, but now we have extra layers of complexity that you are dealing with as chief judge, with the coronavirus pandemic and the George Floyd killing. You have to bargain with both the PR piece of that and the logistics of how things are going to move frontwards. What have you been doing to address that from a logistical indicate of view?

The virus has affected everything that we do. The beginning affair we have to provide is a good for you and safe environment for our staff and for all the people that enter the courthouse. It's really contrary to having an open judicial system. Now we're maxim, stop for a minute. You accept to wear a mask earlier you come in here. We accept to have social distancing from the time you walk into this edifice all the style to the courtroom.  Nosotros have to practise social distancing in the courtroom room.

Yesterday, I was with Hennepin County workplace safety. We were in the court and we had them looking at our set for jury trial. Nosotros accept to provide social distancing for the jury, and everyone in the courtroom. It'southward just not the way information technology used to be. They were in there giving us helpful suggestions and it's all based on health. It has naught to do with the law. It's a different focus for united states of america. Hither's mitt sanitizer. How many do you demand? Where do you lot need to put them? You need to have disinfectant wipes. Things equally far equally the microphone. The microphone has a cream cover on it. You tin't wipe the foam cover because then yous'll destroy it. Information technology's but all these different things that we do.

That's merely the health office of the building. We've had to work with our justice partners, with the Sheriff's Office, the Minneapolis prosecutors, the Hennepin County prosecutors. We were in a position back when this showtime started in March where nosotros had about 850 people in our jail. In 3 weeks, with the assistance of our justice partners, we reduced that to well-nigh 450-500 people. It was important that the jail had capacity to spread people out because we knew that people were going to come in. Nosotros had to understand what they were doing so they could practise all the proper wellness screenings and have space if there was an outbreak in the jail. We had to accept a system for them to know how to trace information technology. They work on all that stuff, merely nosotros all had to work together on this. Who's going to exist contacted? For instance, the jail was actually proficient, they thought they had someone who might have been positive. They even went dorsum and looked at all the video where that person was and who came in contact with them. Stuff we never would accept done before, or stuff we never had to do before. The virus has changed that. if nosotros were able to reduce the jail from 850 people down to 450-500 people in three weeks, who really needed to exist in our jails? We've done some really good things to keep some low-level offenders out of our jail, so now it'southward similar, "How are we able to practice that?" That'south because we were pressured to. It's going to be interesting to see what nosotros exercise later this is over and can we maintain or reduce a number of people in the jail. I retrieve that will be important coming out of this COVID-19 pandemic.

George Floyd was part of your question. That is happening right now, and it but happened Monday, and so I think part of what nosotros're going to see after all this—I promise—is some changes in the way that people are treated when they encounter the police. I would think for well-nigh people their encounters with law officers are not negative, but in certain neighborhoods they are negative and the frequency of those encounters are just too many. Every time one of these things happen, there's ever hope and I think dorsum to '91 when Rodney King was browbeaten. I'll never forget when my grandmother and I were talking nearly it. I was up here in law school and we're talking most the video.

She goes, "We finally got them."—talking most the police force on video. I was thinking about this. It was in 1991. How many times accept nosotros seen these instances of constabulary brutality on video and nothing'due south happened? We have to have promise because if nosotros don't accept hope, at that place'due south just too much despair for us to call up almost. It'southward tough. Information technology'south really tough. I hope some actually good things happen from this. In that location'southward already been criminal justice reform happening and initiatives. Maybe this will push some of those through faster. We'll have to see where nosotros end upwardly. I just hope we're not back in the same place, because we've seen this too many times.

You've talked a lot about increasing the multifariousness of the workforce. One of the good things well-nigh your appointment amongst a number of things is you are the commencement person of colour to be a primary of a district courtroom in Minnesota. When you hear that, what exercise you recollect? What goes through your mind? What do y'all think that ways to others who aspire to be where you are?

That'southward a lot. I'll try to answer all those questions. I knew four years agone that I would run. I knew that'due south one of the reasons I wanted to be an banana principal judge. I knew that's something that I wanted to do. But when yous go elected, particularly if yous don't have anyone challenging you, afterwards the vote you lot merely feel a tremendous amount of responsibility from your colleagues that they trust you and that they back up you. From being a person of color, you feel a tremendous amount of responsibility and obligation to your community. I did not know that I was the commencement person of color to be a master estimate at the district court level until Judge [Angela] Willms contacted me.

It's i part of beingness thrilled and happy and all those things, and so in that location'south that other function of you that feels disappointed because it's 2020 and y'all're in Hennepin County. Information technology's the well-nigh various county in the state of Minnesota. Yous think, how tin can this not happen? There are so many other judges of colour that accept come through Hennepin County and take deserved the honor of existence chief judge.

It'southward kind of emotional to think about it. It'southward that role where you know that in that location'southward a lot of optics on you. And at that place'due south a lot of people wanting yous to succeed. I was really surprised to meet some of the emails and texts that I received from people just wishing me well. I sent out an email to all the judges after I was elected and I said that I was happy and I was nervous and I got a response from about five or then judges saying, "Don't be nervous. Nosotros're going to support you." Those things are keen.

The hope part makes me understand the obligation that I have. This obligation—that I don't think my white colleagues come up with— is that when you're a person of color and you go to a position similar this, you know that at that place are people who expect a lot from you. And you know that they desire you to succeed. And you besides know that you are going to be a role model for other people. It's that part where y'all go, "Delight, I do non want to screw this up." I know I'm going to make mistakes. That's just human being. It's but that part of y'all that goes, "I merely want to do a expert job. I actually want to succeed in this." I want to be able to know that the majority of the bench knows that I am going to piece of work hard for them and correspond them very well. That the 500-plus employees know that I am going to make sure that their interests are taken to center and that I am going to work hard for them. And then it's the customs expectations, I want to brand sure I rise to that occasion and that I represent them well. It can be overwhelming.

My son did this wonderful poster where he took and put down African-American men who were the first. He did it through history so he put me at the finish of it. So that was fantastic. The only matter from that that was disappointing in the poster was that he had a lot of the dad sayings on in that location. Things that I say quite often like, "Hey, did you get my text?" or "Hey this is a not bad opportunity for you lot!" ... There's parts that are very personal when you think of a legacy and what y'all are leaving and how other people view you. Having a son and a daughter just feeling similar y'all're representing them very well, too.

Talking about legacy, picture that you're retired now and the Hennepin Lawyer is writing an article about the chiefship of Guess Barnette. What would yous want that article to say in terms of what your legacy was during your fourth dimension leading the demote?

I think what I would like to leave the bench with every bit a legacy would be that the judiciary in Hennepin County is better than information technology was when I started. This is what I mean past that. When someone walks into that courthouse, they feel more welcomed than they did before. I retrieve some people walk in there and they walk in with distrust. We can't stop the distrust. Sometimes we're not responsible for the distrust. But if they walk into the courthouse and they go, y'all know what, I know when I walk in here I volition be respected and I know that whether I'm a spectator or whether I'm a defendant or I'chiliad a victim or any, that when I'm in that courthouse, I'one thousand going to exist respected and I'grand going to be treated fairly. That would be important to me.

What are some or personal things almost you that the legal customs would want to know?

Equally embarrassing as that is, i of the things they wouldn't know is that I similar playing Panda Popular, which my daughter introduced me to a yr ago and at present regrets. There are parts in the game where you lot are on a timer, and she'll inquire me something, and I'll say, "I have two minutes left, it volition have to look."

I of the things lately with the pandemic that's just been great, if there is any silver lining through it all, is the corporeality of time that at present I've had with my family. One of the matter that's happened earlier the pandemic, I take two teenagers, ane is 17 and 1 is xv. My daughter, the oldest one, plays soccer. [My son] plays basketball. I can go out the house in the morning and come domicile and they're not here. And I won't run across them till the next morning just because my daughter's practice might not become washed until x p.thou. I'm asleep, she's quondam plenty to accept care of herself when she comes into the house. I might see her the side by side twenty-four hours. Merely the pandemic has forced us to be together, good or bad for them. It's that family unit fourth dimension that I felt like I used to have when I grew up.

tomlinsoncooll1996.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.mnbar.org/hennepin-county-bar-association/resources/hennepin-lawyer/articles/2020/06/29/an-interview-with-chief-judge-toddrick-s.-barnette

Share this post