Prosecutor Kathleen Morris deliberately suppressed evidence and lied to a judge

The commission appointed by Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich to investigate Scott County Prosecutor Kathleen Morris, who headed what locals have come to call "the Great Minnesota Sex Scandal", has returned a 72-page report. The three-member commission, chaired by Anoka County District Judge Lynn Olson, found that Morris:

• deliberately suppressed evidence;
• lied to a judge;
• lied to the public;
• did not respect the rights of the accused; and
• dropped charges against 21 defendants even though could have been successfully prosecuted.

In its report the commission said, "Those defendants who were guilty went free, and those who were innocent were left without the opportunity to clear their names." The report concluded that "those children who were victims became victims once again {...} abandoned by the system and by the system's representative, Kathleen Morris."

The commission, however, did not find sufficient evidence to remove Morris from office. The report indicated that only 7 of the original 26 allegations against Morris have been proved and that only two were found to involve malfeasance.

Lawsuits totalling millions of dollars have been filed by former defendants against Morris and others involved in the case. Trials are expected to begin next spring (Philadelphia Gay News, 18Oct85).

source: NAMBLA Bulletin, Vol. 6, N. 10; December 1985