Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Harsh Minnesota Winter

A restraining order agains winter and winter-forecasting
meteorologists issued by a Minnesota judge. 

It snowed again in Minnesota yesterday. More than a foot of snow fell in some parts of the state, especially north and west of Minneapolis.

It has snowed a LOT in Minnesota this winter. There's TONS of snow on the ground. People have had enough.

People like Hennepin County 4th District Judge Kevin Burke, who issued a restraining order against "Minnesota meteorologists, Old Man Winter and Mr. Snow."

Don't worry, the filing was issued tongue-in-cheek. Winter hasn't driven Judge Burke to the looney bin, at least not yet. (It is supposed to snow in parts of Minnesota again later this week, so stay tuned.)

According to the Fox9 KSMP News in Minneapolis, Judge Burke ruled:

"This order is issued because there is compelling evidence in the record that Minnesota Meteorlogists have conspired with the other defendants to increase television and radio ratings. Who, for example, would watch the weather in Hawaii, where it is always nice?"

(Somebody forgot to tell the kind judge about the Kona storm last month in Hawaii that dumped snow for the first time on record on a high mountain in Maui.)

Judge Burke laid out his legal logic, in part, thusly:

"Minnesotans are hardy people. They enjoy their winters and have a good relationship with the Defendants. But there comes a point when the trust between the parties is ruptured. The Defendents have a fiduciary duty to the Plantiffs not to overdo it."

Lots of snow in Mankato, Minnesota this weekend. 

As evidence the judge cited a Star-Tribune columnist who complained of 15-foot snow piles next to his driveway.

Residents of other hard-hit parts of the upper Midwest are out of luck, despite the judge's restraining order.

Judge Burke wrote in his decision: "This does not prohibit the Defendants from continuing their exploits in Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota."

In fact, for some reason, the judge said the defendants can particularly unleash their wrath on the fair city of Green Bay, Wisconsin.  

Personally, I think a counterclaim is brewing from Wisconsin.