After months away, Anoka County judge back on bench

Like a stern father, Judge Donald Venne offered some life lessons as he handed down a sentence to a 21-year-old mother involved in a drug possession case.

"You have a long life ahead of you and you don't want these kinds of things dragging you back," the Anoka County judge said. "Your goal in life is to never see me again."

After tying up a few clerical issues, Venne concluded by telling the woman he "knows how easy it is to get diverted by life." This personal observation summed up his own struggle over the past 2 1/2 years, first as his doctor ordered him to take a medical leave for mental health reasons and then as his request to the governor's office for disability retirement dragged on.

Toward the end of last year, Venne, 62, worked with his treating physician about the possibility of returning to work. The doctor approved the request, which was reviewed and green-lighted by the chief judge of Venne's district. Venne quietly resumed his duties in January.

"My reason for returning to the bench was that I had waited a long time for resolution of my disability request, and I decided that I had to consider other options," Venne said in a short statement. "My family supported me in this decision. My chief judge supported me in this decision. I am thankful for this support and the support of my colleagues and court staff."

Why former Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office declined to rule on Venne's disability request remains a mystery, and officials can't discuss it because of state privacy laws. Venne applied for disability retirement in June 2009 after a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression resulting from a family matter. The request requires the governor's approval because judges are elected officials; most are completed within a few weeks.

Pawlenty's office took the rare step of sending Venne's request to the state Board on Judicial Standards for an independent evaluation. The board retained former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, and the investigation had been completed by the time Venne withdrew his application in December. The investigation's outcome is unclear.

Venne had been on medical leave since the fall of 2008 and received his annual $129,000 salary during that time. Last summer, then-County Attorney Robert Johnson, who has since retired, said he'd like to see Venne return to work or be replaced.

During his leave, Venne was required to check in with 10th Judicial District Chief Judge Timothy Bloomquist every few months. They spoke several times before Bloomquist received confirmation from Venne's doctor that it was appropriate for him to return to work. The chief judge said that it was "his call" and that he had no reservations about the decision.

"It's very good to have him back, and all reports indicate he's doing very well," Bloomquist said.

Venne's health issues came to a head in 2008, when he was confronted by investigators for failing to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2006. He owed $2,300, but emphasized in a Star Tribune article last September that he wasn't accused of trying to evade paying his taxes. When the matter began, Venne said, his doctor told him to be placed on medical leave because "he believed I could not perform my duties as a judge at the time."

Venne's tax case wrapped up in June 2009, and the Board on Judicial Standards issued a public reprimand. Venne's doctor eventually concluded he was permanently disabled from performing the duties of a judge. During the plea hearing in his tax case, Venne gave emotional testimony how a long-term family tragedy led a therapist to conclude he had post-traumatic stress disorder, a diagnosis he resisted. When Venne applied for disability retirement, he notified the board about it and cooperated with its investigation.

Michael Roith, a now-retired Anoka County judge and longtime friend of Venne's, said that, looking back, he can see the impact of Venne's family issues. To cope with it, Venne cloaked it to the people around and close to him, Roith said.

"They thought he adjusted and handled it," Roith said. "He worked with a psychologist for two years to get the insight, that ability to understand how to cope with things or how you didn't handle things like you should."

Attorneys who have had cases in front of Venne since he returned to the bench have noticed a change in his demeanor.

"He seems much more calm, polite and understanding than he has been in the past," said attorney Carolyn Agin Schmidt, who has been in Venne's courtroom dozens of times. "I am glad he is back with what appears to be a new vigor."

Venne, appointed to the bench in 1986 and elected four times since, will have to decide in two years whether he wants to seek another term.

"My return to work has been very positive, and I continue to do the work of a judge in the best way I can, with great respect for our legal system, as I have done throughout my career on the bench," Venne said.

David Chanen • 612-673-4465