"On behalf of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputies Association, I am pleased to inform you or our endorsement in your bid for re-election this fall.

I have personally witnessed your fair, firm, and consistent demeanor on the bench. As law enforcement officers, I know that members of the Deputies Association appreciate your compassion and your leadership in the courts.

We wish you the best of luck in the upcoming election and thank you for your continued service to the residents of Hennepin County."

Enthusiastically,
Kevin Schwartz
Hennepin County Sheriff's Deputies Association Vice President"

Judge James Swenson was one of 4 finalists out of 83 applicants for a recent appointment to the Court of Appeals. Over 25 well-respected family law attorneys co-authored a letter of recommendation in which they praised Judge Swenson: "Judge Swenson is one of the most thoughtful and intelligent judicial officers on the bench today . . . Judge Swenson's recognition of the varied legal issues and strong emotions within this area of the law, coupled with his tireless work ethic, continue to provide parties in divorce or custody disputes with a clear, thoughtful and swift decision. Judge Swenson is well-known and respected for his opinions and his thoughtful application of family law to each unique set of facts."

Stephen G. Dennis, JD, CPA, ABV, a lawyer and accountant who regularly appears in court as an expert witness

This was not the first time the Court of Appeals praised Judge Swenson's work ethic. In Fulmer v. Fulmer, 594 N.W.2d 210 (Minn. App. 1999), Judge Swenson's decision was characterized as a "commendably detailed 20-page order containing 45 findings, with two other orders and a lengthy memorandum." The Court of Appeals also observed that, "The trial court conducted a painstaking review of appellant's voluminous financial records * * *."

The Institute for Family Violence at Florida State University recently reported regarding judges who have been lauded for their good work. The report had the following to say about Hennepin County Judge James Swenson:

The “Good News” about JudgesThere are a myriad of examples of judges across the U.S. who have been lauded for their good work. The Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation at Florida State University has compiled a brief list of examples of positive coverage received by some of these judges.11.) Assistant Chief Judge James Swenson – Hennepin County, MN (2001, 2003) – “Swenson has been instrumental in the development of the court's aggressive case management and early neutral evaluation programs, designed to reduce the time families spend arguing over child custody and parenting issues… The aggressive case-management program was started in 2001, when the court began requiring litigants and their lawyers to meet with the judge three weeks after filing the case. According to Swenson, it's an opportunity for the parties to work on a cooperative basis, settle inconsequential matters and develop aggressive schedules designed to bring the case to conclusion as quickly as possible. Out of that program the court began developing techniques to speed up the process even more, including allowing informal letter arguments that can be given to the court quickly, rather than the traditional method of bringing a formal motion supported by affidavits. In 2003, the court initiated the early neutral evaluation program, whereby litigants meet with experienced child custody evaluators - one male and one female - usually the day of the case management conference. Swenson notes that an early neutral evaluation has as its core component a candid assessment by the evaluators, which they use to help the parties comes to agreement.”

- Copyright 2006 Dolan Media Newswires, The Minnesota Lawyer (Minneapolis, MN), WORD
See http://familyvio.csw.fsu.edu/CHV.php