Last week, the Upper Midwest Law Center secured another significant victory for the Minnesota Constitution. In a decisive order, the Ramsey County District Court denied the state’s motion to stay the ruling that previously struck down the “binary trigger” ban. This means that the provision, unconstitutionally jammed into the 1,400-plus page 2024 omnibus bill, remains unenforceable.
A clear rebuke to unconstitutional lawmaking
Our original victory on Aug. 18 was clear: the binary trigger provision was never validly enacted under the Minnesota Constitution’s Single Subject Clause. This clause is a critical safeguard against legislative abuses like logrolling, where unrelated topics are crammed into a single, massive bill to ensure passage.
When the state moved to stay that judgment, they were effectively asking the court to reinstate and enforce a criminal law that had already been declared unconstitutional. Even worse, the state did so after acknowledging in open court that the binary trigger ban was not constitutionally enacted. Judge Leonardo Castro’s denial of that motion, issued on Nov. 5, is a powerful reaffirmation of the rule of law.
The court’s unwavering stance
Judge Castro’s order delivered a strong message to the state: “To stay this Court’s Order would be, in essence, to validate a law that was unconstitutionally enacted, which this Court will not do.” In other words, a law passed unconstitutionally is no law at all. The government must follow the law too.
Furthermore, the Court emphasized that “Public interest favors not enforcing unconstitutional laws.” Reinstating a criminal law that everyone agrees was enacted unconstitutionally would only empower the state to further violate the law. Critically, Judge Castro pointed to the profound due process implications, noting that allowing the state to “hold, arrest and incarcerate people who possess binary triggers despite the lack of a valid statutory prohibition is poor public policy and contrary to the principles of due process.”
Why this matters
This decision is more than just a win for our client, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus; it’s a victory for every Minnesotan who believes in transparent governance and constitutional integrity. It reinforces that legislative shortcuts and the misuse of the law-making process will not be tolerated.
The state’s attempt to enforce a law that was never constitutionally passed was a dangerous overreach. The court has rightly upheld its duty to protect citizens from such abuses and to ensure that our laws are made constitutionally and transparently.
The Upper Midwest Law Center will now fight to strike down the entire 2024 omnibus bill on appeal. As Judge Castro warned the state, “It was only through judicial restraint, as guided and directed by our supreme court, that this Court did not declare the entire omnibus bill unconstitutional.” We remain committed to holding government accountable and protecting the fundamental liberties of all Minnesotans.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not represent an official position of Alpha News.
Alexandra Howell
Allie Howell is Trial and Appellate Counsel for the Upper Midwest Law Center.
