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8:45 – 9:15 a.m: Criminal Law Update
Maleah Otterson serves as a criminal prosecutor for the City of Minneapolis, prosecuting cases ranging from petty misdemeanors to gross misdemeanors. She is also a certified Drug Recognition Evaluator, bringing specialized expertise in identifying and prosecuting drug- and alcohol-related impairment cases. Additionally, Otterson monitors developments at the state legislature, tracking new laws related to criminal law to support her office’s work.
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9:15 – 10:15 a.m.: Updates & Best Practices with Brady-Giglio
Timothy A. Richards
Tim Richards has served for more than 27 years as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office. As a managing attorney since 2009, Richards has led the development and expansion of several units within the division, including a dedicated full-time Brady/Giglio team, as well as expungement, vehicle forfeiture, drugged driving, appellate and pedestrian fatality teams.
Richards was appointed to two terms on the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure. In addition, he has served as an adjunct professor and has provided instruction at a wide variety of continuing legal education programs and law enforcement trainings.
Richards holds a Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. Before entering public service, he worked as a news and government reporter for a daily newspaper in Iowa.
Michelle Johnson
Michelle Johnson is a senior assistant attorney with the City of Minneapolis, specializing in Brady/Giglio obligations and ethical compliance within the criminal justice system. She oversees the review and disclosure of exculpatory and impeachment evidence, helping ensure fair trials and adherence to constitutional, rule-based and ethical standards.
With a strong background in criminal prosecution, Johnson works closely with trial team attorneys to navigate complex Brady/Giglio disclosure and admissibility issues. She is committed to promoting transparency, accountability and best practices in prosecution related to Brady/Giglio.
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10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Hot Topics in Minnesota Employment Law
Susan M. Tindal
Susan Tindal is an attorney with Iverson Reuvers whose practice focuses on the defense of municipal liability claims, employment litigation, civil rights lawsuits and general litigation. She helps clients throughout Minnesota, including cities, counties, townships, school districts and businesses.
As a litigator, Tindal has tried cases and handled appeals before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court. Tindal also advises businesses on a variety of employment matters, including policy manuals, hiring, discipline and termination.
A graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, Tindal was named a 2011 Up and Coming Attorney and Rising Star by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine and prides herself on handling cases in a respectful and efficient manner.
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11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Civil Law Update
Tori KeeTori Kee is an attorney and intergovernmental relations representative at the League of Minnesota Cities, advocating before lawmakers and agency officials on a variety of topics including civil law and judiciary matters. Kee joined the League’s Research Department in 2022, supporting cities with research and resources on a wide range of municipal governance topics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from St. Catherine University and a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
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1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) - Public Official Safety and Security
Scott Mueller
Scott Mueller is the deputy superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Mueller previously supervised the BCA’s Force Investigation Unit and Metro Regional Office and served as commander of the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force.
Mueller has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience in patrol operations, general investigations, use-of-deadly-force investigations, financial crimes, crime scene work, missing persons cases, abductions and homicides. He has led and participated in numerous homicide, officer-involved use-of-deadly-force and missing persons investigations.
Mueller has instructed law enforcement professionals in areas such as defensive tactics, firearms, crime scene work, missing persons, interview and interrogation, officer use of deadly force, death investigations and law enforcement leadership. He holds a master’s degree and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Mueller has testified as an expert witness in the areas of police use of force, force investigations and firearms-related cases.
Michelle Frascone
Michelle Frascone serves as the special agent in charge of the Minnesota Criminal Information Operations Center and director of the Minnesota Fusion Center. In this capacity, she leads Minnesota’s statewide intelligence enterprise, overseeing the collection, analysis and dissemination of threat information to support prevention, protection and response efforts.
Agent Frascone is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has extensive experience leading complex, high-profile investigations, including homicide, officer-involved use-of-force and violent crime cases. Throughout her tenure, she has held multiple leadership roles, where she has demonstrated expertise in critical incident management, multi-agency coordination, and the implementation of policies and practices that promote transparency, accountability and operational effectiveness.
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2:45 – 3:45 p.m.: Judicial Update
Paul Merwin
Paul Merwin has been at the League of Minnesota Cities since 2005. He works as a defense attorney, with an emphasis on land use law and manages the League’s Amicus Program. He previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General. From 2004-2013, he taught Environmental Law as an adjunct professor of law at Hamline School of Law. Merwin is a 1998 graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Law.