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Fast Facts about the Judicial Branch

Courts:

• Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• District (Trial) Courts

Judicial Branch FY 2012 Annual Budget:

• District Courts- $233,511,000
• Supreme Court/State Court Administration- $30,458,000
• Court of Appeals- $10,106,000
• Total- $274,075,000

How judges are selected:

Elected in the general election. Non-partisan. For the district court, vacancies between general elections are filled by appointment by the governor from a list compiled by the Commission on Judicial Selection.  For the appellate courts, vacancies between general elections are filled by appointment by the governor. Term of Office: 6 years

Number of Authorized Judgeships:

• Supreme Court- 7
• Court of Appeals- 19
• District (Trial) Courts- 289
• Total- 315

Judicial Salaries:

• Supreme Court Chief Justice- $160,579
• Supreme Court Associate Justice- $145,981
• Court of Appeals Chief Judge- $144,429
• Court of Appeals Judge- $137,552
• District Court Chief Judge- $135,580
• District Court Judge- $129,124

Permanent Full-Time Employee Positions Authorized (excluding judges): Appx. 2,500

Judicial Districts: 10

Funding: State-funded

Number of Judicial Branch hearing facilities: 101

Oldest Courthouse: Washington County Courthouse, 101 West Pine Street, Stillwater, 1869.

Number of Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places: 62

Informational One-Page Sheets (Topical):

• Minnesota Supreme Court (PDF)
• Minnesota Court of Appeals (PDF)
• Minnesota District Courts (PDF)
• Court Demographics (PDF)
• Sentencing Guidelines (PDF)
• Court Jurisdiction (PDF)

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