Representative Jim Newberger, R-Becker, doesn't just spend his time fretting about his fears about commuter rail and visitors to the prison in St. Cloud.
Or even worrying about whether environmentalists will persecute him and call him a climate change denier.
That's not enough to keep fossil fuels' best friend busy. Via the Star Tribune, Associated Press reporter Brian Bakst reports in Minnesota lawmaker tried to sway judge to rethink $240,000 judgment against firm:
A Minnesota legislator tried unsuccessfully last month to personally intervene with a judge who ordered a business owner in his district to pay a legal judgment of more than $240,000.
State Rep. Jim Newberger's effort to win his constituent and one-time campaign donor a do-over drew a curt response from Stearns County District Court Judge William Cashman, who deemed the personal contact inappropriate. Newberger declined to discuss his advocacy when The Associated Press approached him Thursday, describing it as a private matter that he was surprised to see become public.
The Becker Republican did, however, issue a statement Friday defending his action on behalf of Jeff Friedrich, president of CarCo Automotive Inc. based in Rice. . . .
Newberger's letter to the judge was a last-ditch attempt by Friedrich to reopen the lawsuit filed by another central Minnesota business, Finken Water Inc. . . .
"I didn't know who else to communicate with. I thought maybe he was in a situation to help me out," Friedrich said. "I turned to him for assistance because he is a decent guy and has common sense."
In mid-December, Newberger wrote Cashman on official House letterhead appealing for reconsideration. Newberger, a paramedic, is a member of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the judicial branch budget.
"I understand that mistakes were made and that Mr. Friedrich could have dealt with this issue in a better manner. However, I see this as an opportunity for you to show grace in this situation and allow him time before your bench," Newberger wrote. "A judgment of this amount will cause a major hardship to the CarCo Company, one of the Rice area's biggest employers."
Cashman replied that he didn't realize the nature of the letter when it appeared as an email attachment from Newberger. The judge said had he known it pertained to a case before him, he would have returned it unread. He put the letter in the public case file and notified attorneys in the case.
"Representative Newberger, since it is against the Rules of Judicial Conduct for me to consider ex parte communications, I am respectfully requesting that you not send me any further correspondence regarding this matter," Cashman wrote back. . . .
Bluestem recommends that Newberger find another hobby. In the mean time, perhaps the Republican House caucus could quit dithering about benefits for workers on the Iron Range and other real problems.
Photo: Jim Newberger, R-Becker, left front, pointing a finger. Photo by Glenn Stubbe, Star Tribune.
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