Red Lake County Faces Attorney Shortage, Leaving Key Legal Position Unfilled by Local Resident
Red Lake County, Minnesota, is currently without a resident attorney eligible to run for the county attorney position. This issue extends to Mahnomen and Lake of the Woods counties, which also lack candidates on the ballot. The situation in Red Lake County is particularly unique because no licensed attorneys reside within its borders. According to Minnesota statute, a county attorney must reside within the county they serve. A search of the Minnesota Supreme Court's lawyer registration database for Red Lake County's ZIP codes revealed only two lawyers: one deceased and the other, Michael LaCoursiere, retired in 2023 and has not renewed his license. Consequently, the county board has had to appoint attorneys from neighboring counties, such as Tanner Holten from Polk County, who recently stepped down, and his successor, Alex Dillabough, also from Polk County. This highlights a broader problem of 'legal deserts' in rural areas, where legal assistance is scarce. 
