Susan is a principal at Gray Plant Mooty and a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group. She is an experienced trial attorney, having served as Ramsey County Attorney from 1995 to 2011. She was only the fourth person to hold the office since 1933 and was the first woman to hold the office. Susan took a hands-on approach and successfully prosecuted many high-profile and complex cases in civil and criminal court. She was an assistant county attorney for 10 years, successfully trying scores of cases to a jury. She worked as a criminal defense attorney for the William Mauzy Law Office and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gerald W. Heaney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Susan’s trial expertise has been recognized by her admission into the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Susan’s experience includes managing the myriad civil litigation and advisory practice challenges faced by a major metropolitan county. She understands the impact that investigations and litigation have on an organization. Her experience allows her to create solutions to legal problems and ensure they are provided in a cost-effective manner, whether it is done in-house or through outside counsel.
Representative Cases
- State v. Sontoya, 788 N.W.2d 868 (Minn. 2010).
- State v. Evans, 756 N.W.2d 854 (Minn. 2008).
- State v. Cram, 718 N.W.2d 898 (Minn. 2006).
- State v. Waddell, 655 N.W.2d 803 (Minn. 2003).
Publications
- “Adapting to New Eyewitness Identification Procedures,” chapter author, Reforming Eyewitness Identification Procedures to Strengthen Prosecutions, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore, 2010
- “Successful Eyewitness Identification Reform: Ramsey County’s Blind Sequential Lineup Protocol,” Police Chief Magazine, April 2009
- "Three Strikes Against Juvenile Crime: Prevention, Intervention, Detention,” The Prosecutor, November/December 1996
Presentations
- “Government Investigations: The Tricks, Traps, and Technicalities,” panelist, GPM White Collar Roundtable, April 14, 2011
- “The Link Between Animal Abuse and a Culture of Violence,” 42nd Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Bloomington, MN, August 27, 2007
- “Human Trafficking: Today’s Hidden Slavery,” 41st Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Bloomington, MN, August 22, 2006
- “Progress in Combating Domestic Abuse,” Symposium on Domestic Violence, St. Paul, MN, September 9, 2005
- “The Sudafed’s Gone, but Meth Lingers On: Where Do We Go From Here?” 40th Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Bloomington, MN, August 22, 2005
- “Sex Offenders: Myths, Realities, and Reflections,” 39th Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Bloomington, MN, August 24, 2004
- “Domestic Violence and the Invisible Victims,” American Association of University Women, St. Paul, MN, April 13, 2004
- “Domestic Violence and the Quest for Peace at Home,” Church Women United, St. Paul, MN, November 7, 2003
- “Why Don’t They Leave,” 37th Annual Criminal Justice Institute, Bloomington, MN, August 19, 2002
- “DNA Forensics,” Forum of Executive Women, St. Cloud, MN, March 13, 2002
- “The Exciting Era of DNA Forensics,” Saint Paul District Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, December 7, 2001
- “Joint Domestic Abuse Prosecution Unit,” Domestic Violence Workshop, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, May 22, 2001
- “Sexual Psychopathic Personalities and Sexually Dangerous Persons: Origins of the Law,” cochair and presenter, Conference on Sexual Psychopathic Personalities and Sexually Dangerous Persons, Bloomington, MN, April 14, 2000
- “Truancy Intervention Program: A Graduated Sanctions Approach,” 26th National Conference on Juvenile Justice, Minneapolis, MN, March 21-24, 1999
- “Presenting the State’s Case: A Guide to Direct Examination,” 53rd Annual Short Course for Prosecuting Attorneys, Northwestern University School of Law, July 20-23, 1998
- “Promising Juvenile Justice Programs for Prosecutors, copresenter, 24th National Conference on Juvenile Justice, Reno, NV, March 9-12, 1997
- Conference on Sexual Psychopathic Personalities and Sexually Dangerous Persons, cochair and presenter, Bloomington, MN, January 24, 1997
- “Mandatory DNA Laboratory Accreditation, Analyst Certification: Milestone or Millstone?” panelist, NDAA Summer Conference, Nashville, TN, July 21–26, 1996
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1980
Minnesota Law Review
Order of the Coif - University of Minnesota-Duluth, B.A., Political Science, summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, advisory board and past vice chair
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Minnesota County Attorneys Association, board member and past president
- National District Attorneys Association, board of director
Honors and Distinctions
- “Super Lawyer,” Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2004-2009
- Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award, Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association, 2009
- Prosecutor of Excellence Award, Public Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, 2007
- Women of Distinction Award, Century College, 2007
- Distinguished Service Award, Minnesota County Attorneys Association, 2004
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2003
- Hall of Fame, Harding High School, St. Paul, MN
Community Involvement
- Minnesota Interagency Task Force on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention
- Minnesota Criminal & Juvenile Justice Information Task Force
- Joint Domestic Abuse Prosecution Unit, cofounder, 2000
- National Symposium on Female Offenders, delegate, 1999
- White House Leadership Conference on Youth, Drug Use, and Violence, participant, 1996
- University of Minnesota Law School, Board of Visitors, 1996–2001
- Presidential Scholarship Commission, by appointment of President Clinton, 1995–2000
- Minnesota Attorney General’s Arson Task Force, 1995–1998