DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – A judge has postponed the felony burglary trial of State Senator Nicole Mitchell, who faces charges including first‑degree burglary and possession of burglary tools related to an incident at her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home in April 2024. Originally set to begin June 16 with jury selection, the trial was delayed following a virtual hearing earlier Monday.
Mitchell’s attorneys requested the delay “out of reverence” for the recent shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and to allow tensions in the state’s political climate to ease. Over the weekend, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded. In wake of the attacks, prosecutors agreed that it was “not a good week for this case,” citing concerns among jurors and court security.
Judge Michael Fritz acknowledged the gravity of the weekend’s violence and agreed to the continuation, emphasizing the importance of both fairness and safety in the courtroom. He did not set a new trial date, but indicated that parties will confer and return via Zoom to establish the updated schedule.
This marks the second postponement of Mitchell’s trial. It was initially postponed from January to June to accommodate her legislative duties. The defense has maintained that Mitchell entered her stepmother’s home early on April 22, 2024, to recover sentimental items—including her late father’s ashes—and to check on her stepmother, who has Alzheimer’s. Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Last year’s ethics hearing also resulted in committee removal and calls for her resignation, though she has continued to serve and cast critical tie-breaking votes during tight legislative sessions.
The trial’s delay reflects deep concerns within Minnesota’s justice system and political arena. The coming weeks will see defense and prosecution work to reschedule proceedings and prepare for a trial that could last about a week, with a pause anticipated around Juneteenth. Legal experts suggest the case intertwines emotional family dynamics with legal and political implications, potentially shifting the balance of power in a narrowly divided Senate.
A Zoom hearing will be scheduled shortly to set the new trial date and finalize plans for jury selection and courtroom arrangements.
