Judicial candidate: Mimi Hasselbalch

Talk about it

Mimi Hasselbalch

Age: 50

Family: One adult child, one 17-year-old child. Co-parent with a supportive Dad who lives in Ramsey County.

Hometown: Stillwater.

Work Experience: During law school: Clerkship for City of St. Paul Public Health Vacant Housing Division; Hennepin and Anoka County Attorneys Offices - Criminal Division. After law school: Real estate & Title Insurance 1996-2001; 2001-present – Hasselbalch Law Office – general practice including criminal defense and prosecution, bankruptcy, family law, animal law, real estate and small business.

1. What makes you the best candidate?

Live and practice in Stillwater. Know many of the judges, attorneys, court and corrections staff and work well with them. Competent, hard worker, timely, discreet, good temperament. Good listener. Genuine concern for people and their issues. No hidden agenda. Fifty years of life experience. Ten years of broad based experience in many areas of law representing parties on both sides of conflicts. Emotionally intelligent. Strong moral compass. Common sense approach to conflict. Grounded. Unpretentious. Sense of humor. Not beholden to any organization, political party or because of an endorsement. Able to make difficult, fair decisions while upholding the law.

2. How would you as a judge suggest the court system respond to limited or reduced state funding?

Support the Judicial Council in its continuing efforts to use technology to reduce workloads for court administration staff, centralize and streamline service and operational costs. Continue efforts to reduce administrative costs and increase efficiency. Restructure self-represented litigant services. Continue the commitment to offer equal access and quick resolution of cases. Work with partners outside the court system to begin or continue efforts to improve with new innovative programming. Be cognizant, supportive of and work with other state funded organizations that are also suffering from reduced funding while providing legal services to court users.

3. Do you believe judicial candidates should be allowed to discuss political views and be involved in non-judicial politics?

No answer provided.