Judge Suspended: ‘Flagrant and Egregious’ Misconduct Shakes Public Trust

Judge Suspended: ‘Flagrant and Egregious’ Misconduct Shakes Public Trust

In a rare and scathing disciplinary action, the Minnesota Supreme Court suspended Anoka County District Court Judge John P. Dehen for nine months without pay on September 23, 2025, condemning his misconduct as both “flagrant and egregious.”

The high court concluded that Judge Dehen’s actions — including a blatant abuse of judicial authority in a salary dispute and the highly inappropriate decision to preside over court while traveling in a moving vehicle — “severely undermine the public’s trust in the judicial system.”

Abuse of Authority in Salary Dispute

At the heart of the case was Judge Dehen’s misuse of judicial authority to compel higher pay for a court reporter assigned to him. The Supreme Court found that he improperly issued two writs of mandamus aimed at forcing a district court administrator to increase the employee’s compensation — despite the existence of clear administrative policies and a collective bargaining agreement.

The justices concluded that Dehen had a direct personal stake in the matter and failed to provide the administrator a meaningful opportunity to respond, thereby violating the principle that “no judge may decide a case in which they have a personal interest.”

Weaponizing the Bench: The court sharply criticized Dehen for “wielding his power differential over district court staff and other employees like a cudgel” to secure a desired outcome outside proper administrative channels.

Adding to the court’s concerns was Dehen’s lack of remorse. The opinion noted that he “exhibited little if any remorse” for his conduct, which the court described as “particularly egregious.” That lack of accountability factored heavily into the decision to extend the suspension from the six months recommended by the Judicial Standards panel to nine months without pay.

Court in a Car: A Breach of Decorum

The second major violation stemmed from Dehen’s decision to conduct a remote juvenile calendar from a moving vehicle while en route to a family swim meet.

The session included confidential juvenile matters, raising serious concerns about both decorum and the protection of sensitive information. Attorneys who appeared at the hearing testified that they were “shocked” and “distressed” by the judge’s conduct, calling it “highly unusual” and “inappropriate.”

While Dehen later admitted that holding court from a car was “poor judgment,” he initially denied it constituted ethical misconduct. The Supreme Court firmly disagreed, holding that the episode violated core rules of judicial decorum, professionalism, and respect for court participants.

Long-Term Impact

The suspension took effect on September 29, 2025, and just days later, court filings revealed that Judge Dehen planned to retire effective October 10. To prevent him from escaping the sanction by stepping down, the Supreme Court’s order extended the punishment: if Dehen leaves the bench during the suspension period, he will remain barred from practicing law for the balance of the nine months.

In its concluding remarks, the high court emphasized that severe discipline was necessary to protect the integrity of Minnesota’s judiciary:

“This misconduct is flagrant and egregious. Severe discipline is necessary to ensure that it is not repeated and to deter others from similar behavior.”

This suspension represents one of the strongest disciplinary measures short of removal from office and underscores the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining public confidence in the fairness, professionalism, and impartiality of Minnesota’s courts..

MinneapoliMedia