News Item
The Minnesota Judicial Branch will celebrate Law Day with two Open Courthouse events

Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Minnesota Judicial Branch will celebrate Law Day with two Open Courthouse events. The events will take place at the Anoka County Courthouse and Government Center in Anoka, and at the Blue Earth County Justice Center in Mankato. The Open Courthouse events are designed to showcase the work of Minnesota’s justice system, and educate students and the public about the role of judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and citizens in administering the justice system.
 
About the Anoka Open Courthouse event
On Friday, April 29, the Anoka County Courthouse and Government Center in downtown Anoka will open its doors to the public for a Law Day “Open Courthouse” event. The public and media are invited to attend the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
As part of the Open Courthouse event in Anoka, community members can take part in free legal service clinics to get help from volunteer attorneys and quickly and efficiently take care of important business they may have with the justice system. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to:
  • Get help with family law issues – such as child support, custody, parenting time, paternity, divorce, and domestic violence – from volunteer attorneys;
  • Get information and legal help with issues related to guardianships, conservatorships, and power of attorney;
  • Learn how to begin the process of expunging adult, juvenile, and eviction court records with help from volunteer attorneys;
  • Resolve outstanding warrants for criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, and discuss resolution of outstanding issues in some felony cases;
  • Address unpaid court fines and fees;
  • Speak to volunteer attorneys about immigration law issues; and
  • Talk to officials from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Division of Driver and Vehicle Services about reinstating a suspended driver’s license.
 
For members of the public, including students, interested in learning more about their local justice system, the event will also feature:
  • Guided courthouse tours with presentations by local district court judges and justice system partners;
  • An information fair with an opportunity to learn more about Minnesota’s justice system and its partner organizations; and
  • Demonstrations of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.
Learn more about the Anoka Open Courthouse event
 
About the Mankato Open Courthouse event
On Friday, April 29, the Blue Earth County Justice Center in Mankato will open its doors to the public for a Law Day “Open Courthouse” event. 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.
Learn more about the Mankato Open Courthouse event