Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged ICE agent Gregory Morgan Jr. with two counts of second-degree assault for allegedly pointing his gun at two people in traffic during Operation Metro Surge. She also charged ICE agent Christian Castro with four counts of second-degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime for allegedly shooting and wounding an immigrant in north Minneapolis. Castro also allegedly said he was assaulted before he shot the man.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison jointly launched independent investigations into the fatal shootings of Rene Good and Alex Pretti after the federal government refused to share evidence with local authorities. They created an online portal for the public to share information, videos and photos related to the January killings. Moriarty is also suing the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to compel the agencies to release evidence in the shootings.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has said she’ll continue to gather information about any potential wrongdoing by federal immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge, and will seek charges when possible.

Local police and sheriff’s deputies have been criticized by community members for how they treated the public while providing crowd control at several federal enforcement scenes, including immigration raids. Local authorities have said they were providing necessary crowd control to keep the public safe, and were not aiding in federal activity. However, some critics viewed their work as complicit in federal enforcement, and said they used too much force on demonstrators.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has put an emphasis on rehabilitating juvenile offenders via alternatives to the traditional court system, and has expanded the office’s diversion program. Youth accused of serious felonies like murder, however, don’t qualify for such programs.

Juvenile justice reform was a major part of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s campaign for the post in 2022. She vowed to end adult prison sentences for youth offenders. Her philosophy was put to the test in 2023 when she offered plea deals to two teenagers accused of a fatal shooting, sparking community outrage and the governor’s intervention.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has received criticism for what some say are strained relationships with local police departments. Both Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and former Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara have spoken publicly about a lack of feedback and collaboration with the county attorney’s office. Moriarty levied the same accusations against O’Hara.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty decided in 2025 to largely stop charging felony cases that originate from evidence collected during low-level traffic stops. Moriarty said the risk of enforcing minor traffic violations outweighed the reward, citing disproportionate harm to residents of color and data that shows low levels of success during these stops.

Gov. Tim Walz ordered Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to take over a murder case from Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarity after her office offered plea deals to two teenage brothers accused in a fatal shooting, sparking community outrage. The juveniles were accused of killing 23-year-old Zaria McKeever; her ex-boyfriend sent them to her apartment to kill her current partner. After Ellison’s office took over the case, the brother who shot and killed McKeever was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. The other brother, who was present during the murder, was sentenced to two years in a juvenile correction facility.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s office and Minnesota Attorney General appear to be working together more than ever before, including filing multiple lawsuits against the federal government during and after Operation Metro Surge.