Public Notice Detail
Announcement of Vacancies on the State Board of Civil Legal Aid

Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2024

The Supreme Court is seeking to fill six openings for the newly created State Board of Civil Legal Aid. The members would be appointed effective July 1, 2025. Full terms will be four years. All candidates shall have demonstrated a commitment in maintaining high-quality civil legal services to people of low or moderate means. Retired judges can be members, but active judges and anyone “closely affiliated” with a grant applicant are not eligible. Close affiliation would include anyone who is currently a staff or board member of a grantee organization. If you are currently a board member of a grantee organization you can apply, but would have to agree to resign from the grantee board upon appointment to the State Board of Civil Legal Aid.
 
Members may be compensated at the rate of $55 a day spent on board activities, when authorized by the board, plus expenses as authorized. Members who, as a result of time spent attending board meetings, incur child care expenses that would not otherwise have been incurred, may be reimbursed for those expenses upon board authorization.
 
The State Board of Civil Legal Aid, an independent Judicial Branch agency, is charged with ensuring access to high-quality civil legal services in every Minnesota county and carrying out the following duties as outlined in the new statute:
(1) approve and recommend to the legislature a budget for the board and the civil legal services grants distributed subject to section 480.242;
(2) establish procedures for distribution of funding under section 480.242; and
(3) establish civil program standards, administrative policies, or procedures necessary to ensure quality advocacy for persons unable to afford private counsel.
 
To be considered for appointment, submit a letter of interest and resume to Christa Rutherford-Block, Clerk of Appellate Courts, via e-mail at mjcappellateclerkofcourt@courts.state.mn.us
or via U.S. Mail at 305 Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155. (E-Mail applications are preferred). 

In your letter, please include a description of your interest in the civil legal needs of low-income Minnesotans or highlight your experience with legal services.  All applications must be received no later than 4:30 pm on January 3, 2025.

Questions about the work of the State Board of Civil Legal Aid can be directed to  lsac@courts.state.mn.us.