We are all doing our part to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. People are staying home as much as possible. And many businesses have changed their operations in response. Recently Minnesota’s Governor put out a stay-at-home advisory. But it makes many practical exceptions, including for any essential business. And Gallagher Criminal Defense is an essential business during the Coronavirus response.
REDUX: Emergency Executive Order, Directing Minnesotans to Stay Home, March 25, 2020
Essential business: Here are excerpts quoting relevant parts:
“6. Exemptions – Critical Sectors. .. Workers in the following Critical Sectors, who are performing work that cannot be done at their home or residence through telework or virtual work and can be done only at a place of work outside of their home or residence, are exempted from the prohibition in paragraph 1 as set forth below. …
Emergency Executive Order 20-20, Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home, March 25, 2020
“cc. Legal services. … Essential legal services include:
“ii. Advice and representation required to ensure the immediate and critical health, safety, and liberties of Minnesotans, including but not limited to, … prosecution or defense in ongoing criminal matters, or all matters in which individuals are held in custody pending a legal proceeding, and proceedings held in the district or appellate courts during the effective period of this order.”
So, Criminal Defense is an essential business.
Of course, the United States and Minnesota Constitutions guarantee your right to counsel from a criminal defense attorney. So any government decree or order to the contrary would be void in any event.
But the recent Executive “Stay Home” Order makes it clear. Criminal defense attorneys provide an essential business service. So your access to criminal defense cannot lawfully be denied.
Criminal justice symmetry – COVID-19 update
As long the government threatens your life, liberty or property; you have the right to due process; and help from an attorney. And this includes police and law enforcement.
In our system of checks and balances, the potential for government abuse of power requires a response. And criminal defense lawyers are an “essential business” serving the People during the Coronavirus pandemic.
And that means you have the right to travel to and from your Criminal
Gallagher Criminal Defense is here to help
Attorney Thomas C. Gallagher is here to help you, as always. Gallagher Criminal Defense is an essential business. We help protect you from government abuse, even during a pandemic.
But call volumes have increased during the social distancing response. So Attorney Gallagher may not be able to answer your call on the first attempt. Voice mails typically get a return call within minutes or hours, however.
And we find solutions to minimize in person contacts as well as court appearances.
But if the police and prosecutors continue to plague people; Gallagher Criminal Defense is ready to help protect you and your family from the threat.
You can call 612 333-1500 with your questions.
Some legal issues have become bigger problems for the government during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, see our articles:
Repeal the Minnesota anti-mask law? We’re all criminals nowWhy Gov’s Minnesota Mask Mandate Order Is Illegal, Unenforceable