Minnesota v. Russell

477 N.W.2d 886 (1991)

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Minnesota v. Russell

Minnesota Supreme Court
477 N.W.2d 886 (1991)

Facts

Minnesota criminal statutes differentiated between the possession of crack cocaine and cocaine powder. Pursuant to Minnesota law, possession of three grams of crack cocaine carried a presumptive sentence of 48 months in prison with a maximum sentence of 20 years, while possession of three grams of cocaine powder carried a presumptive sentence of 12 months in prison with a maximum sentence of five years. African American men (defendants) who had been charged with possession of crack cocaine filed a motion to dismiss their charges, arguing that the statute had a discriminatory impact on African Americans because crack cocaine is typically used by African Americans and cocaine powder is typically used by white Americans. The trial court agreed that the statute violated the equal-protection clause and dismissed the charges. Specifically, the trial court ruled that there was no rational basis for distinguishing between crack cocaine and cocaine powder. In doing so, the trial court certified the question of whether the statute violates the equal-protection clause to the appellate court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Wahl, J.)

Dissent (Coyne, J.)

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