Suit Against Minnesota Sex Offender Program Enters 2nd week

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A federal judge has rejected a motion to strike testimony from four court-appointed experts who've said at least some of the more than 700 people civilly committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program should be released.

Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Nathan Brennaman asked U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank on Tuesday to disregard those portions of the experts' testimony. He said their opinions were prejudicial because none of the experts could name any specific offenders who they think shouldn't be in the program, apart from two exceptions.

But Frank said he considered the state's objections a non-issue and proceeded with the trial, which entered its second week Tuesday.

The class-action lawsuit is challenging the constitutionality of the sex offender program. Two residents in the program are scheduled to testify Tuesday afternoon.