Vance Boelter, the man convicted of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, made his initial appearance in state court on Monday, August 3, 2026. Boelter is currently serving two life terms plus 40 years after pleading guilty to federal charges related to the killings and the critical wounding of a state senator.

The state case against Boelter had been on hold pending the resolution of the federal case. Monday’s procedural hearing in Hennepin County came less than two weeks after his federal sentencing.

Boelter, 59, agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in June 2026, nearly a year after the Minneapolis-area attacks, to avoid the death penalty. Minnesota abolished capital punishment in 1911 and has never had a federal death penalty case.

During the state court hearing, Boelter told Hennepin County Judge Juan Hoyos that over eight years he had met with Minnesota elected officials in Washington, D.C., including U.S. officials. He also questioned the court's authority to compel testimony from a certain individual, asking, “Does this court have the authority to bring her in to testify? Or is she above the law?”

Additionally, Boelter claimed his rights had been violated during the 14 months he spent in federal custody, according to the Star Tribune.

Sources