Precedential Opinions

Under Minn. Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 136.01, the Court of Appeals issues a precedential opinion (formerly called "published opinions") only to clarify or develop the law. In deciding whether to issue a precedential opinion, the court considers multiple factors listed in Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 136.01, subd. (1)(b), including whether the case establishes a new principle or rule of law, clarifies existing case law, decides a novel issue involving a constitutional provision, statute, administrative rule or rule of court, or resolves a significant or recurring legal issue. Precedential opinions will be considered and used by courts faced with similar issues in the future, and they are published in books of caselaw found in most law libraries. Under Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(f), parties may advise the court whether a precedential opinion would be helpful.

DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
FILED MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025

A24-1948 State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Johnathon Brock Mattson-McCarty, Appellant.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Bev Benson.
Under the corpus delicti statute, Minnesota Statutes section 634.03 (2024), when a district court correctly denies a defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal based on its determination that the trial evidence is sufficient to be presented to the jury because evidence independent of the defendant’s confession reasonably tends to prove that the defendant committed the charged offense, the court acts within its discretion by declining to instruct the jury that a confession of the defendant shall not be sufficient to warrant conviction without evidence that the offense charged has been committed.
Affirmed. Judge Keala C. Ede.

Court of Appeals Opinions