Mahnomen County Attorney’s Position Declared Vacant

MAHNOMEN, MN—

At Tuesday’s Mahnomen County Commission meeting, the Commission recognized and declared a vacancy in the office of County Attorney. The Board’s action terminates the term of office of previous County Attorney Julie Bruggeman.  You’ll remember back in June, the Minnesota Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Bruggeman from practicing law. Mahnomen County officials say there has never been a case in the history of Minnesota where this has happened to a sitting, elected county attorney.

Right now, the county attorney’s office is being managed by Interim County Attorney Jason Hastings. He will continue in that role until the board appoints a permanent County Attorney.  The Mahnomen County Commission will look to appoint a permanent County Attorney for the remainder of the term through December 31, 2026, at which time Mahnomen County voters will elect a replacement for the next term.

This past July, the Mahnomen County Commission was made aware of disciplinary action taken by the Minnesota State Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility against Bruggeman. The Supreme Court suspended Bruggeman’s license indefinitely.  Later, the Commission learned this was the second time Bruggeman had been the subject of discipline, as she was publicly reprimanded in 2018.