State Board Reprimands Clay County Judge Cahill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards has publicly reprimanded Clay County District Judge Steven J. Cahill.

The board cited several instances when Cahill failed to follow the law. In one case the judge reduced the sentence of an immigrant who pleaded guilty to burglary because he was concerned a felony conviction might result in his deportation. The board says Cahill did so even though he knew of two appeals court decisions that said potential immigration consequences must not be taken into consideration for sentencing purposes. Cahill had expressed disagreement with those binding precedents.

The board also faulted Cahill for extensive chronic tardiness.

Cahill tells KFGO-AM he's seeing a counselor about his tardiness. Cahill says he will not appeal the board's findings and says he plans to seek re-election this fall.

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