News Item

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Public invited to celebrate Law Day at Mankato “Open Courthouse” event

Posted: Tuesday, March 15, 2016

April 29 event features guided courthouse tours and information fair
 
On Friday, April 29, the Blue Earth County Justice Center in Mankato will open its doors to the public as part of a Law Day “Open Courthouse” event designed to showcase the work of Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District, and educate students and the public about the role of judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and citizens in administering Minnesota’s justice system. The public and media are invited to attend the event, which runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Open Courthouse event will feature numerous activities, including:

• A special visit from Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson;
• An opportunity to meet local district court judges and justice system partners;
• Guided “behind-the-scenes” tours of the Blue Earth County Justice Center, with presentations by judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, and local law enforcement.
• An information fair with representatives from numerous law- and justice-related organizations.
• Information on free and low-cost legal services available to the public.

“Minnesota’s justice system has been recognized nationally for its innovation and effectiveness, and a commitment to providing fair and equal access to the law,” said Minnesota Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge Bradley C. Walker. “As the nation celebrates Law Day, we want to give our community an opportunity to see their justice system up close, and learn more about the people and partnerships that work to preserve the rule of law in our state.”

A detailed schedule of events for the April 29 event is provided below:

[1 p.m.] Welcoming remarks from Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie E. Hudson and Minnesota Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge Bradley C. Walker

• Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie E. Hudson and Minnesota Fifth Judicial District Chief Judge Bradley C. Walker, one of the four judges chambered in the Blue Earth County Justice Center, will welcome visitors and share a brief overview of Minnesota’s judicial system.

[1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.] Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the Blue Earth County Justice Center

• Visitors can take a 45-minute educational tour of the Blue Earth County Justice Center. Visitors will go “behind-the-scenes” to view a judge’s chambers, a courtroom, the jury deliberation room, and the holding area used to hold defendant’s awaiting trial. At each stop, visitors will hear from judges, attorneys, law enforcement officials, and court staff about the unique role they each play in administering Minnesota’s justice system. Tours begin at 1:30 p.m. and will leave every 30 minutes. The last tour will leave at 3:30 p.m.

[12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.] Information Fair

• Visitors can take a self-guided walk through an information fair designed to showcase the work of many of the justice system partners in the local community, share legal resources available to the public, and highlight new advancements in criminal justice and court technology being implemented across the state.

The Open Courthouse event is scheduled to coincide with Law Day, a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share. Law Day was first established in 1958 through a proclamation by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 1 as Law Day, U.S.A. in 1961.

The Law Day Open Courthouse event is being hosted by Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District in partnership with Blue Earth County and local justice system partners.

More information about the event will be provided in the weeks ahead, and will also be posted at www.mncourts.gov/MankatoLawDay2016.  

The Blue Earth County Justice Center is located at 401 Carver Road in Mankato. Free public parking is available.

About Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District
Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District serves these 15 counties in southwest Minnesota: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, and Watonwan. The District has a total of 16 judges serving the 287,000 citizens of the district. In 2015, more than 49,000 cases were filed in Fifth Judicial District courts.