MINNESOTA. Supreme Court:
An Inventory of Files of Chief Justice Peter S. Popovich at
the Minnesota Historical Society
| | |
|
|
| Agency: | Minnesota. Supreme Court. |
| Series Title: | Files of Chief Justice Peter S.
Popovich, |
| Date: | 1966-1991 (bulk 1987-1990). |
| Abstract: | Correspondence and subject files of Popovich
as Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice, documenting the administration of and
certain issues facing the stat's appellate and district courts. |
| Quantity: | 8.0 cu. ft. (8 boxes) |
| Location: | See Detailed Description section for box
locations. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Peter Stephen Popovich, a Minnesota lawyer and jurist, was born in
November 1920 at Crosby, Minnesota. He received a bachelor's degree from the
University of Minnesota in 1942, and his LLB degree from the St. Paul College
of Law in 1947. Popovich was a partner in the St. Paul law firms of Peterson
& Popovich (1947-1952, 1960-ca. 1974), Peterson, Popovich & Marsden
(1952-1960), and Peterson, Popovich, Knutson & Flynn (ca. 1975-ca. 1983).
He was a representative from St. Paul in the Minnesota House from 1953 until
1963.
Peter Popovich served as chief judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
(1983-1987), and in November 1987 became an associate justice of the Minnesota
Supreme Court. On February 1, 1989 he succeeded Douglas K. Amdahl as chief
justice, in which capacity he served until reaching mandatory retirement age in
November 1990.
Popovich married Dorothy Lee in 1944, with whom he had four children.
In 1985 Popovich married Gail Prince Javorina.
Return to the Table of Contents
Files kept by Justice Popovich during his tenure on the Minnesota
Supreme Court. The materials concern the operation and administration of the
Supreme Court, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and the Minnesota district court
system. Included are correspondence and memoranda, subject files, minutes of
meetings, statistical data, reports, newspaper clippings, and miscellany such
as hearing transcripts and photocopies of legal briefs.
Correspondence concerns cases, legislation, and administrative and
operational matters, including complaints about lawyers, judges, and court
decisions. There are invitations to meetings, dinners, conferences, and
speaking engagements. Correspondents include other members of the judiciary,
state legislators, law school officials, bar associations, lawyers, and
litigants.
There are minutes of meetings of Supreme and Appeals court judges, and
of the Conference of [Minnesota district court] Chief Judges; and statistics on
the processing and disposition of cases in the state's courts. There is
information about the sunset (abolition) and transfer of district court
judgeships, the Minnesota Judicial Center building in St. Paul, and about such
issues as gender fairness in the courts, state financing of trial courts, and
the adoption of uniform rules in the district courts. A file on legislation
includes information about the Vice Lords street gang in Minneapolis.
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
|
|
| Popovich's personal papers are in the Minnesota Historical Society's
manuscript collections. |
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
|
|
| These records are indexed under the following
headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers
desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the
catalog using these headings. |
| Topics: |
| | Court administration--Minnesota. |
| | Court rules--Minnesota. |
| | Courts--Minnesota--Officials and employees. |
| | Minnesota Judicial Center (Saint Paul, Minnesota). |
| | Judges--Minnesota. |
| | Lawyers--Minnesota. |
| Persons: |
| | Amdahl, Douglas K. (Douglas Kenneth), 1919-. |
| | Popovich, Peter S. 1920-. |
| | Wozniak, D. D. (Daniel Donald), 1922-. |
| Organizations: |
| | American Bar Association. |
| | Conference of Chief Judges (Minnesota). |
| | Hamline University. Law School. |
| | Minnesota State Bar Association. |
| | Minnesota. Court of Appeals. |
| | Vice Lords (Organization). |
| | William Mitchell College of Law. |
Return to the Table of Contents
| | |
|
|
| Preferred Citation: |
| | [Indicate the cited item, folder title, and
section here]. Minnesota Supreme Court. Files of Chief Justice Peter S.
Popovich. Minnesota Historical Society. State Archives. |
| | See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples. |
| Accession Information: |
| | Accession number(s): 993-130 |
| Processing Information: |
| | Processed by: David B. Peterson, March 1994. |
| | PALS ID No.: 0900037144 RLIN ID No.: MNHV94-A640 |
Return to the Table of Contents
Note to Researchers: To request materials, please note
both the location and box numbers shown below.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Correspondence
|
| Correspondence includes invitations to meetings, dinners,
conferences, and speaking engagements. Some of it has to do with cases tried
before the Supreme Court or in lower courts. There are letters from
disappointed litigants complaining about court decisions or alleging misconduct
by judges and attorney malpractice, particularly with regard to divorce cases
and child custody issues. Some writers ask Popovich for legal advice, or
request that he intercede on their behalf in various situations. Other letters
are from individuals interested in working as law clerks or interns. Some
correspondence pertains to legislative matters. |
| Correspondents include Popovich, Justice Amdahl, State Court
Administrator Sue K. Dosal, and various associate justices of the Supreme
Court; district court judges and personnel; legislators and state officials;
attorneys; disappointed litigants; law school officials; the American and
Minnesota State bar associations; and various other professional organizations
and societies. Many of the letters are from friends and acquaintances or
long-time colleagues, and are of a relatively familiar and personal nature. |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.4F | 1 |
A-F, 1987-1991. 6 folders
|
| |
Field, Barry, 1989.
|
| |
G, 1987-1991.
|
| |
Graham, John Remington, 1990.
|
| |
H, 1988-1991. 2 folders
|
| |
Humphrey, Michael, 1988-1990.
|
| | | [threatening letters] |
| |
I-K, 1987-1991. 3 folders
|
| |
Kopecky, Frank, 1989.
|
| | | [Center for Legal Studies, Sangamon State University,
Springfield, Illinois] |
| |
Kral, Sister Elzear Lillian, 1988-1990.
|
| | | [former nun apparently expelled by her order] |
| |
Krogstad, John H., 1989-1990.
|
| |
L-S, 1987-1991. 11 folders
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.5B | 2 |
T-Z, 1987-1991. 4 folders
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Subject Files
|
| Subject files include biographical information about Popovich,
floor plans and other information about the Minnesota Judicial Center building,
information about lawyers' professional organizations and societies, and
statistical data pertaining to the trial, appellate, and Supreme courts. There
is information about Popovich's participation in the St. Paul Winter Carnival
(1988-1989), about computer and information management systems being purchased
for or considered by the Court, and a list of Popovich's speaking engagements
(1984-1987). |
| Material relating to the Court of Appeals includes statistical
data, photocopies of Chief Judge D. D. Wozniak's correspondence and memoranda,
and minutes of judges' meetings. A file about legislation includes trial court
caseload statistics (1988), correspondence with the leadership of the Minnesota
Senate and House of Representatives, and information about witness intimidation
by the Vice Lords street gang in Minneapolis (1989). There is a folder of
newspaper obituaries of Minnesota judges, lawyers, lawmakers, public officials,
Iron Rangers, and others who apparently were friends of Justice Popovich. There
are also minutes, correspondence, and other material related to the Conference
of Chief Judges (Minnesota district court judges). |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.5B | 2 |
Abortion, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1988.
|
| |
Academy of Trial Lawyers of Minnesota,
1987-1988.
|
| |
Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1988-1990.
|
| |
American Bar Association, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
American Law Institute, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Annual Conference of Judges, 1987.
|
| |
Appeals Court:
|
| | |
Correspondence, 1985-1990. 3 folders
|
| | |
Memos to, 1987-1990.
|
| | |
Minutes, 1983-1989.
|
| | |
Statistics (1983-1988).
|
| |
Appellate Court Task Force, 1988-1989.
|
| |
Appellate Courts: Statistics, 1983-1988.
|
| |
Asbestos Cases, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Asbestos Litigation, 1987-1989. 2 folders
|
| |
Attorney Delinquent List, 1987-1990.
|
| |
Attorney General, 1990.
|
| |
Attorney Registration Fee Committee,
1986-1990.
|
| |
Bar Admissions: Other States, 1989.
|
| |
Biographical Information, 1985-1990.
|
| |
Board of Judicial Standards, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Board of Law Examiners, 1988-1990. 3 folders
|
| |
Board of Legal Certification, 1990.
|
| |
Board of Professional Responsibility,
1987-1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.6F | 3 |
Board of Public Defense, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Budgets, 1988-1990.
|
| |
Cameras in the Courtroom, 1981-1990. 6 folders
|
| |
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board,
1987-1990.
|
| |
Case Processing Statistics, 1983-1989.
|
| |
Citizen Ambassador Program, 1988.
|
| |
Client Security Board, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Compensation Council, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Conference Delegations, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Conference of [Minnesota District Court] Chief
Judges:
|
| | |
Meeting Files, July 1977 - December 1981, June 1988 -
October 1990. 5 folders
|
| | | | Minutes (copies), agendas, correspondence, internal memoranda,
reports, and related papers. |
| | |
Attachments, 1986-1990. 3 folders
|
| | |
Case Management Study, 1986-1990. 3 folders
|
| |
Continuing Legal Education Credits,
1989-1990.
|
| |
Continuing Legal Education Director,
1989-1990.
|
| |
Court Information Officer, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Court Reporters, 1989-1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.7B | 4 |
Court Reporters Data, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Criminal Justice Data Group, 1990.
|
| |
Elections, 1988-1990.
|
| |
Exhibits Committee, 1988.
|
| |
FAX, 1989.
|
| | | [use of facsimile machines] |
| |
Federal Judicial Center, 1989.
|
| |
Fire Kings Council, 1988-1989.
|
| | | [St. Paul Winter Carnival] |
| |
Greater Minnesota Corporation, 1989.
|
| |
Hamline Law Review Article,
1990.
|
| |
Hennepin County Public Defender, 1987-1989.
|
| |
Honeywell Bull, 1989-1990.
|
| | | [computer systems] |
| |
Housing Court, 1990.
|
| |
Indian Jurisdiction Committee, 1989.
|
| |
Information Systems Office, 1987-1989.
|
| |
International Visitors, 1987-1989.
|
| |
Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA),
1986-1990.
|
| |
Jarvis Implementations, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Judicial Building, 1990. 3 folders
|
| |
Judicial Building: Move and Transition,
1990.
|
| |
Judicial Center: Open House and Tour, 1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Judicial Center Public Education Commission,
1987.
|
| |
Judicial Evaluation, 1989-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Judicial Immunity, 1989.
|
| |
Jury Standards, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Juvenile Representation Study Committee,
1989.
|
| |
Law Library, 1988-1990.
|
| |
Legislation, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Legislative Auditor, 1990.
|
| |
Litigation Against Court, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Minnesota Association for Court Administrators (MACA),
1989.
|
| |
Minnesota Association of Townships, 1988.
|
| |
Minnesota Citizens Council on Crime and Justice,
1990.
|
| |
Minnesota Department of Human Services,
1990.
|
| |
Minnesota Historical Society, 1988-1990.
|
| |
Minnesota Injury Compensation Study Commission,
1989.
|
| |
Minnesota News Council, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Minnesota State Bar Association, 1987-1990.
|
| |
Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association,
1986-1989.
|
| |
Mock Trial, 1990.
|
| | | [Minnesota High School Mock Trial Program] |
| |
National Center for State Courts, 1989-1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.8F | 5 |
News Releases, 1987-1989.
|
| |
Obituaries, ca.1986-1990.
|
| | | [newspaper clippings] |
| |
Opinion Release Policy, 1982-1987.
|
| |
Perpich, Rudy, 1985-1990.
|
| |
Public Defender Budgets, 1989-1990. 2 folders
|
| |
Public Records Committee, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Retirements, 1988-1989.
|
| |
Revisor of Statutes, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Security, 1983-1987.
|
| | | [Judicial Center and other facilities] |
| |
Select Committee on the Impact of Drugs,
1989-1990.
|
| |
Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 1984-1990.
|
| |
Speaking Engagements [list], 1984-1987.
|
| |
Speedy Trial Legislation, 1989.
|
| |
State-Federal Relations Committee: Diversity,
1989.
|
| |
Supreme Court Statistics, 1983-1988.
|
| |
Tax Protestors, 1990.
|
| |
TCIS [Trial Courts Information System],
1989-1990.
|
| |
Trial Court Statistics, 1984-1989. 2 folders
|
| |
Uniform Rules, 1989.
|
| |
United States Courts, 1989-1990.
|
| |
U.S. Supreme Court, 1988-1990.
|
| |
University of Minnesota, 1988-1990.
|
| |
Video Project, 1989-1990.
|
| |
West Publishing Company, 1987-1990.
|
| |
William Mitchell College of Law, 1987-1990.
|
| |
Wisconsin Admittees, 1989.
|
| |
Women Judges' Fund for Justice, 1989-1990.
|
| |
Workers Compensation, 1988.
|
| |
Miscellany, 1988-1990.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Judicial Districts
|
| Judicial district files include statistical and other information
about the functioning of the Minnesota district court system, and efforts to
expedite the flow of cases through them; the shifting of financing for trial
court operations from counties and local taxpayers to the State of Minnesota;
and the sunset (abolition) and transfer of district court judgeships. |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.8F | 5 |
Subject Files:
|
| | |
Delay Reduction:
|
| | | |
2nd and 4th Districts, 1987-1990.
|
| | | |
5th and 7th Districts, 1988-1989.
|
| | |
District Court Judges: Correspondence, 1985-1990.
2 folders
|
| | |
District Court Rules, 1983-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
Judicial Ethics, 1987-1989.
|
| | |
Retired Judges, 1984-1990.
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.9B | 6 |
Files Organized by District:
|
| | | These files concern the sunsetting and transfer of judgeships
and other special issues or projects. |
| | |
1st Judicial District, 1990.
|
| | |
2nd Judicial District, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
2nd Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer,
1986-1988.
|
| | | | [abolition and transfer of judgeships] |
| | |
3rd Judicial District, 1987-1990.
|
| | |
3rd Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer,
1987.
|
| | |
4th Judicial District, 1989-1990.
|
| | |
4th Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer,
1986-1987.
|
| | |
5th Judicial District, 1988-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
5th Judicial District: Sunset and
Transfer:
|
| | | |
1987. 2 folders
|
| | | |
1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
6th Judicial District, 1986-1990. 2 folders
|
| | |
7th Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer,
1986-1987.
|
| | |
8th Judicial District, 1989-1990.
|
| | |
8th Judicial District: State Financing Pilot Project,
1989-1990. 4 folders
|
| | |
8th Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer, 1986-1990.
4 folders
|
| | |
9th Judicial District, 1987-1990.
|
| | |
9th Judicial District: Redistricting,
1988.
|
| | |
10th Judicial District, 1987-1990.
|
| | |
10th Judicial District: Sunset and Transfer,
1985-1986.
|
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Supreme Court Justices Meetings
|
| Agendas and minutes of meetings of the Supreme Court justices. |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.10F | 7 |
Agendas, 1966-1973.
|
| |
Minutes, March 1966-June 1973. 2 folders
|
| | | Meetings 1-53; ribbon copies. |
| |
Topical Index, 1966-1973.
|
| |
Meetings, November 1987 - June 1990. 9 folders
|
| | | Meetings 209-240; the files include minutes (copies), agendas,
correspondence, internal memoranda, reports, and related papers;
incomplete. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces
|
| Files with information about the work of commissions, committees,
and task forces concerned with such issues as gender fairness in the courts,
state financing of trial courts, and the adoption of uniform local rules in the
district courts. |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.10.10F | 7 |
Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force, 1989-1990.
1 folder
|
| | | Recommended use of mediation, arbitration, and other
alternatives to jury trials, in part to try to reduce the volume of litigation
in state courts; joint effort of the Supreme Court and the Minnesota State Bar
Association. Popovich was a member. Includes reports and correspondence |
| |
Criminal Courts Study Commission, 1989-1990.
2 folders
|
| | | Established by the Supreme Court. Made recommendations to
increase efficiency of case processing without sacrificing fair outcome.
Includes correspondence, minutes, and a draft report. |
| |
Criminal Rules Advisory Committee, 1986-1990.
6 folders
|
| | | Appointed by the Supreme Court. Reviewed criminal rules and
recommended amendments to Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure. Popovich was a
member. Includes correspondence and memoranda, meeting agendas, orders,
petitions, legal briefs, and resolutions. |
| |
Gender Fairness in the Courts Task Force.
|
| | | Created by the Supreme Court to determine the extent of gender
bias in the Minnesota State Court System and to recommend and monitor
implementation of possible remedies. Chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice
Rosalie E. Wahl. Includes reports, correspondence, and clippings. |
| | |
1988-1989. (reports)
|
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.11.1B | 8 | |
1989-1990. 3 folders
|
| | | | Correspondence, clippings, miscellaneous papers. |
| |
Judicial Merit Selection Commission, 1990. 2 folders
|
| | | The Supreme Court appointed some members. Charged with
recruiting and evaluating candidates and making recommendations to the Govenor
to fill judicial vacancies. Includes correspondence and memoranda, lists of
names, and resumes. |
| |
Juvenile Representation Study Committee: Report, June 5,
1990.
|
| | | Created by the Supreme Court to study representation of
juveniles by counsel throughout the state. |
| |
Minnesota Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S.
Constitution, 1990.
|
| | | Established by Chief Justice Amdahl to help plan for celebrating
and commemorating the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution.
Appointments made by chief justice and governor. Includes correspondence,
speeches, letters of appointment, and data about applicants and appointees. |
| |
Racial Bias Task Force, 1990.
|
| | | Established by the Supreme Court to examine the extent to which
racial bias exists in the state court system and to provide methods to
eliminate racial bias. Supreme Court appoints its members. Includes
correspondence, resumes, and minutes of the Racial Bias Task Force Planning
Committee, a predecessor or related group of which Popovich was a member. |
| |
Supreme Court Task Force on Financing of the Trial
Courts, 1988-1990. 8 folders
|
| | | Established by the Supreme Court. Studied control and financing
of the trial courts and made recommendations, including the transfer of funding
from counties to the state. Popovich was a member. Includes correspondence,
minutes, and reports. |
| Location | Box |
| 103.C.11.1B | 8 |
Uniform Local Rules Task Force, 1989-1991 (bulk 1990).
8 folders
|
| | | Appointed by the Supreme Court to review diverse local rules
adopted in the state's judicial districts and to determine which, if any,
should be made uniform. Popovich chaired the task force. Includes
correspondence, reports, proposed rule revisions, and comments on task force
recommendations. |
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Organization of the Collection Section
|
