Following up on a bizarre situation involving Minnesota House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, and the security measures employed in the Redwood County courthouse, the Marshall Independent, Seifert clarified his comments to make it clear that he is not so arrogant to think that the county board should provide him his own security nor than he thinks it is acceptable to bring a knife of gun into the facility.
Seifert said he thought court-ordered security from 5th District Chief Judge George Harrleson was odd because it appeared to apply when court was both in session and not in session. The Gazette quoted Seifert as saying Harrelson’s order was odd and that was reprinted in the Oct. 25 Independent.
“I don’t have a problem with security in the courtroom,” Seifert said Monday.
But, does a deputy need to be on the third floor of the courthouse providing court security when no court is in session, Seifert said Monday and said he had asked at the Redwood County board meeting Oct. 16.
Seifert said Monday he believed court was not in session Oct. 16 and a deputy was still on duty. That led him to discuss the order and mention it would be odd to require security when there was no court in session, Seifert said.
Court administrator Patty Amberg said Monday that court was in session Oct. 16, and Harrelson said Redwood County District Court Judge David Peterson told him court was in session Oct. 16.
I’m sure the folks of Redwood County are happy they have the permission of their state representative.
Harrelson was quoted in the Oct. 25 Independent story that his order was issued because of specific and general safety concerns, and that in one week four knives were confiscated.
Seifert said Monday he was asked by area residents during the weekend if he thought it was OK to bring knives and guns in the courtroom.
“I want to clarify, I don’t think it’s OK to bring knives and guns in the courtroom,” Seifert said.
But he also wants Harrelson to clarify if he wants to require Redwood County to have security when court is not in session.
Speaking of Seifert, he and Rep. Lynn Wardlow, R-Eagan, will be having a town hall meeting this evening at Eagan City Hall at 7:00 p.m. I would be there except I will be attending “Indoctrinate U” at the Oak Street Cinema.
Maybe someone in attendance can ask the gentlemen about this, via MnPublius:
