State v. Nelson

I agree with Justice Lillehaug’s analysis, but would affirm for different reasons, and therefore write separately. In my view, our longstanding use of the phrase “care and support” to describe a person’s financial obligations to a child or spouse has given the phrase a special or technical meaning. Thus, in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 645.08 (2012), I conclude that the phrase “care and support,” as used in Minn.Stat. § 609.375 (2012), unambiguously refers to a person’s obligation to pay court-ordered child or spousal support. Because Nelson knowingly omitted and failed to pay court-ordered…