On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the Supreme Court of Minnesota issued an opinion disbarring attorney R. James Jensen Jr. from practicing law in the state.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of James Jensen, Jr.,” with case number A24-0113.
The court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility seeking reciprocal discipline against Jensen. The Director learned that Jensen had been disbarred in Washington state in 2018 for misconduct that took place between 2013 and 2015.
The misconduct stemmed from Jensen’s divorce proceedings and related property disputes with his now ex-wife Therese. During the proceedings, Jensen engaged in a pattern of disobeying court orders, making misrepresentations to courts, filing frivolous motions and appeals, and engaging in harassing behavior toward his ex-wife and her attorney.
Specifically, Jensen obstructed the court-ordered sale of the home he owned with Therese in Mukilteo, Washington. He refused to allow the home to be listed, ripped down a realtor’s sign, and tried to secretly negotiate an extra $50,000 from a potential buyer. Jensen also filed multiple frivolous motions and appeals attempting to block the sale.
Additionally, Jensen misrepresented facts to a Washington court about the property the ex-couple owned in Minnesota. He claimed his ex-wife’s failure to pay taxes caused the property to be lost, when in fact Jensen had ensured tax notices were sent to him and later purchased the property for under $500.
The Washington Supreme Court ultimately disbarred Jensen in 2018, finding he had violated numerous ethics rules.
The Minnesota Supreme Court then imposed reciprocal discipline, concluding disbarment was also warranted in Minnesota based on Jensen’s extensive disciplinary history and the seriousness of his misconduct.
Jensen had previously received discipline from Minnesota courts as well, including a 1991 reprimand, a 1995 admonition, and an 18-month suspension in 1996 for similar misconduct involving disobeying court orders, frivolous claims, and misrepresentations.
In seeking to avoid reciprocal disbarment, Jensen attempted to argue the Washington proceedings were unfair and discipline there does not warrant the same penalty in Minnesota. However, the court rejected these claims, finding no evidence the out-of-state process denied Jensen due process.
The court also ruled disbarment was not unjust or substantially different than what would be imposed in Minnesota given Jensen’s history of identical misconduct and lack of remorse. Jensen will not be eligible for reinstatement until satisfying financial judgments from the Washington disciplinary case.
According to the court filing, Mr. Jensen Jr. acquired his law license in Minnesota in 1985.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
