Minnesota HF3329 assigns public defenders to represent property in civil forfeiture cases and delays litigation until after criminal prosecution.

Minnesota HF3329 amends state law to ensure that if a defendant in a criminal prosecution is represented by a public defender or court-appointed counsel, that same counsel must also represent the defendant's property in any related civil forfeiture litigation. The defendant may answer the civil complaint at any time. Discovery in the civil forfeiture litigation is subject to civil procedure rules and is stayed until after the criminal prosecution conviction. The failure to answer the complaint before the defendant's conviction does not cause a default in the civil forfeiture litigation.

Minnesota HF3329 assigns public defenders to represent property in civil forfeiture cases and delays litigation until after criminal prosecution.

Minnesota HF3329 amends state law to ensure that if a defendant in a criminal prosecution is represented by a public defender or court-appointed counsel, that same counsel must also represent the defendant's property in any related civil forfeiture litigation. The defendant may answer the civil complaint at any time. Discovery in the civil forfeiture litigation is subject to civil procedure rules and is stayed until after the criminal prosecution conviction. The failure to answer the complaint before the defendant's conviction does not cause a default in the civil forfeiture litigation.