Trial Date Set for Lawsuit Over 2024 Race for Rochester City Council Seat

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A trial date has been set for a Rochester lawsuit that was filed following last year’s election.

See Also: Rochester City Council Denies Proposed Development in Downtown Historic District 

 The suit stems from the race for the Fourth Ward seat on the Rochester City Council. 

Incumbent Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick was defeated by challenger Andy Friederichs in November’s election. 

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Kirkpatrick and three other residents of the fourth ward alleged Friederichs does not live in the ward and therefore is not eligible to hold the seat on the city council. 

The civil complaint claims Friederichs family's home is in Marion Township, outside the city limits, even though he now lists his address as a rental unit on East Center Street in Rochester. 

Friederichs was sworn in as a member of the city council in January. In a December court filing, the attorney representing Friederichs had asked the court to start the trial in early January unless the plaintiffs dismissed the case. 

Olmsted County Court records indicate the case had its first hearing in court since December on Monday. 

November Trial Date Set for Rochester City Council Election Lawsuit

During the Monday hearing, the judge presiding over the case set a November 24 trial date.

The trial will be a court trial meaning a judge will decide the outcome of the case, according to court records. 

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 14. The next hearing in the case is a motion hearing that is scheduled for July 29.