The Minnesota board found no clear evidence that his bias influenced his decisions against non-citizen juveniles but agreed that he broke policy in other areas. The board added that Dehen’s order to increase his court reporter’s pay was “particularly egregious,” warranting a nine-month suspension instead of six.
“His actions wasted precious judicial resources and disrespected the rule of law and the administration of justice that he took an oath to uphold‚” the Supreme Court order read.
According to the order, “Judge Dehen has exhibited little if any remorse for his flagrant and egregious actions involving the court reporter dispute, and thus we must fulfill our obligation to ensure that the misconduct is not repeated again, and to deter others from similar behavior.”
Attorney Dan Rasmus, who represented Dehen in the case, could not be reached for comment.
It’s not the first accusation of misconduct against Dehen. The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards said it disciplined Dehen when he was a lawyer in 2006, ordering him to pay $900 for failing to label solicitations as advertising and for conduct “prejudicial to the administration of justice.” The board also privately scolded Dehen in 2022 for improper behavior as a plaintiff in a conciliation case and for abusing the prestige of his office.
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