News Item
Outstanding warrant? Suspended driver’s license? Past due court fines? Anoka County Open Courthouse offers help

Posted: Monday, April 18, 2016

Having an outstanding warrant, a suspended driver’s license, or a past due court fine can lead to a lot of headaches. Anyone with an active warrant can be arrested at any time. Getting caught driving with a suspended driver’s license can lead to criminal charges. Past due court fines are subject to late fees and can eventually be sent to a collection agency.

In an effort to help people avoid these issues, the Anoka County Open Courthouse event on April 29 will give visitors an opportunity to meet with judicial officers, attorneys, and Department of Public Safety officials to find ways to resolve their warrants, suspended license, or past due court fine.
 
The Anoka County Open Courthouse, which is open to the public and media, will also feature courthouse tours, free legal clinics, and an information fair to better educate citizens about their justice system.
 
More information about the services available to people with an outstanding warrant, suspended license, or past due court fine is detailed below:
 
Driver’s License Clinic
Friday, April 29
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Courtroom C150, Anoka County Courthouse
 
  • Representatives from Anoka County Court Administration and the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Vehicle Services (DVS) will be on hand to review drivers’ license records and provide information on how to get a license reinstated, potentially that same day.  If a license cannot be reinstated immediately, visitors will receive comprehensive instructions on what steps will still need to be taken to reinstate a license.
Outstanding Warrant and Unpaid Fines and Fees Clinic
Friday, April 29
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Courtrooms C330 & C340, Anoka County Courthouse
 
  • Those with an Anoka County warrant or case will have the opportunity to resolve outstanding warrants for criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, and discuss resolution of outstanding issues in some felony cases. In addition, visitors can also meet with court officials to discuss options for resolving unpaid court fines and fees. 
Other Resources Available at the Anoka County Open Courthouse event

In addition to the clinics detailed above, the Anoka County Open Courthouse event will feature many other opportunities for visitors to learn about their justice system, and get help with common legal issues. The event includes:
  • Guided courthouse tours with presentations by local district court judges and justice system partners;
  • Free legal clinics on family law, immigration, and Power of Attorney/Guardianship issues;
  • Information about how to remove a prior criminal, juvenile, or eviction case from the court record;
  • 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.
To learn more about the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 29, visit www.mncourts.gov/AnokaLawDay2016. Members of the public can stay up-to-date on the event by following #AnokaLawDay2016 on Twitter.

The Anoka County Government Center and Courthouse is located at 2100 3rd Ave. in downtown Anoka. No cost parking is available in the ramp located on Jackson Street, and the fee has been waived for public parking in the ramp located on Van Buren Street.

About Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District
Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District consists of the counties of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. Forty-five judges serve the district, which is the second largest of Minnesota's 10 judicial districts. In 2015, more than 125,000 cases were filed in the Tenth Judicial District.