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Find out how this society and our legal system is evolving because of the #MeToo movement from the perspective of John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney, in St. Paul, Minnesota (the second largest county in the state). John made history when he was sworn into office on January 3, 2011, as the first Korean-American chief prosecutor in the country. In 2019, John will enter his third term in office.
We discuss how John is working to decrease the supply side of sex trafficking. You will want to hear his workable approach that relates to dismantling power, control, and entitlement. DOWNLOAD
John explains how, in 2015, he set-up a 20-month investigation that led to The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office filing criminal charges and a civil petition against the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The actions were to hold the church criminally accountable for its failure to protect children, justice for the victims, and seek legal remedies to prevent such failures from ever happening again. Press Release
We discuss the origins of the lawsuit. Why he didn’t exert his grand-jury subpoena powers. The statutes of limitation before and now. In May of this year, Minnesota’s Child Victim’s Act was passed into law. This allows victims to file lawsuits against alleged abusers within three years of when it is reported, not three years from when the abuse happened.
We briefly go over the outcome. In exchange for the criminal case dismissal, John asked for a structured settlement. The Archdiocese was required to admit fault and wrong doing, and adhere to structured oversight, until 2021, the first in the country.
The overarching finding outlined in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report of why an institutional playbook for concealing the truth about sexual abuse by priests was even created was not to help children, but to avoid “scandal.” Now that we know the playbook, we can see how it was used in this case. John Choi’s structured settlement will address clericalism, and hold the Catholic Church leaders accountable in abiding by the laws of the secular world.
John said in a newspaper article that what the archdiocese has agreed to do is “unprecedented” and should be a model for child protection protocol for the United States. Going forward, yes. I just don’t know how this kind of protocol will ever rectify the degree of harm the Catholic Church leaders have inflicted upon humanity. All of our lives have been altered by their orchestrated destruction of innocent souls.
Our family is still grieving the loss of our faith community. The protocol is too little and way too late for me to ever trust another leader in the Catholic Church. You can reach your own conclusions.
I live by a promise I took in yoga teacher training: do no harm. This also means to stay away from those who I know are harmful. I will continue to cultivate loving speech, deep listening, engaged leadership, and will transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in others through wholehearted and wholesome living. I am feeling deeply to think, act, lead, and mentor more clearly and more effectively. No playbooks for concealing the truth!
The Latest News in Minnesota
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January of 2015. The bankruptcy reorganization plan to resolve 121 claims of sexual abuse was approved ($210M) September 25, 2018 by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kressel.
Four other Minnesota Catholic Archdioceses have filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy this fall: St. Cloud, Duluth, Winona, and Crookston.
Mentoring Tips
After listening, answer these two questions.
- As a leader, when do you take a bold step and shake things up? In today’s conversation, that would have meant for John Choi to have engaged the Grand Jury in investigating the Catholic Church on sexual abuse claims against priests, and the handling of those cases.
- As a leader, when do you take evolutionary steps to make systemic change? John decided to take this approach; to lay a foundation of precedent by holding the church criminally accountable for its failure to protect children, justice for the victims, and seek legal remedies to prevent such failures from ever happening again. Future civil litigation can be asserted, and layers of court oversight can be added to disperse the power and control of archbishops.
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Institutional Playbook For Concealing The Truth, 5 of 7 Episode 152 Office of Ramsey County Attorney
Podcast Guest Mentor
About John Choi. John Choi made history on January 3, 2011, when he was sworn in as the first Korean-American chief prosecutor in the country. Since taking office, John has become a state and national leader in the fight against sex trafficking. John’s innovative approach to holding abusers accountable, while working collaboratively with advocacy agencies to help victims, has transformed the way government intervenes in domestic violence and sex trafficking situations.
John is now determined to do the same for victims of sexual assault. He stepped up his leadership in this area two years ago by conducting a systems review of sexual assaults in Ramsey County to shine a light on the current system response and need for improvement. As a result, he worked with our City and County partners to develop trainings and immediately reallocate resources to enhance our capacity in investigations and advocacy, so we can better support victims and hold perpetrators accountable. In addition, John has been a champion of engaging men to prevent violence against women and children; successfully advanced legislation to reunite families when it’s in foster children’s best interest; implemented new performance-based outcomes for juvenile diversion programs; developed the use of lethality assessment protocols and GPS technology to keep domestic violence victims safe; created pre-charge diversion for adults; and established a Veterans Court.
Throughout his public tenure, John has been innovative in reforming and finding efficiencies in the criminal justice system. In his previous capacity as Saint Paul City Attorney, John was recognized with the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s top award for distinguished public service. Prior to his successful career in the public sector, John spent a decade in private practice, making partner in six years while focused on government relations, administrative law, municipal law and civil litigation. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Marquette University, a Juris Doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law and was a Humphrey Fellow at the University of Minnesota.
Episode 153: Institutional Playbook For Concealing The Truth, 5 of 7
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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