State v. S.A.M.

DISSENT

More than a decade ago, S.A.M. was convicted of felony burglary, but a district court thought he could be rehabilitated. The court stayed imposition of sentence and put S.A.M. on probation, which S.A.M. successfully completed. As a result, by the plain words of Minnesota law, S.A.M.’s felony conviction “is deemed to be for a misdemeanor.” Minn. Stat. § 609.13, subd. 1(2) (2016). Now a misdemeanant, S.A.M, seeks a chance to prove that he is truly rehabilitated and that his criminal records should be expunged. But today, the court holds that—unlike other misdemeanants— S.A.M. cannot…