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Mankato “Open Courthouse” to give visitors behind-the-scenes look at Minnesota’s justice system on April 29

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2016

Visitors to the Mankato “Open Courthouse” event at the Blue Earth County Justice Center on April 29 will get a behind-the-scenes look at how judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and citizens work together to administer the local justice system.

The event will kick off at 12:30 p.m. with an information fair designed to showcase local and statewide legal resources available to Blue Earth County residents. At 1 p.m., Minnesota Supreme Court Associate 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, including insight into the appellate processes of the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., visitors will be able to take guided tours of the Blue Earth County Justice Center, which will feature several presentations by local justice system officials. Tours will be offered every 30 minutes, beginning at 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, and 3:30 p.m. The “Open Courthouse” event, including the information fair, will conclude at 4:30 p.m.

Below is a list of tour stops and presenters that will be showcased during the tour.

Mankato “Open Courthouse” Guided Tour Overview
  • Tour Stop 1 – Courtroom – Inside a real courtroom, visitors will hear from a district court judge about the work of district courts, and the role of judges in ensuring the fair administration of justice.
  • Tour Stop 2 – Judge’s Chamber – Visitors will be able to enter a judge’s chambers, and hear about the work judges do outside of a courtroom to prepare for a hearing or trial.
  • Tour Stop 3 – Jury Deliberation Room – Blue Earth County District Court staff will show visitors where jurors meet to talk and deliberate about the important cases that come before Minnesota’s district courts. Visitors will learn how jurors are selected, what the role of a juror is in Minnesota’s justice system, and what to expect if called for jury duty.
  • Tour Stop 4 –Holding Area – The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office will show visitors where criminal defendants are held while awaiting a hearing or trial, and talk about the important role their Office plays in protecting the community and supporting the work inside the Blue Earth County Justice Center.
  • Tour Stop 5 – Courtroom – The Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office and the Chief Public Defender of Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District will talk about Minnesota’s criminal justice system, and the role of prosecutors and defense attorneys.
  • Tour Stop 6 – Blue Earth County Law Library – Blue Earth County District Court staff will highlight the free legal resources available to local residents inside the Blue Earth County Law Library, along with no-cost and low-cost legal services offered in the community.
School groups and other large groups are encouraged to pre-register for tours by contacting Lissa Finne at lissa.finne@courts.state.mn.us.

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.

“Minnesota’s justice system has been recognized nationally for its innovation and effectiveness, and its commitment to providing fair and equal access to the law,” said Chief Judge 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.”

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.

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

More information is available at http://www.mncourts.gov/MankatoLawDay2016.

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.