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Fourth Judicial District
Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District serves only Hennepin County and it is the state’s largest trial court, receiving nearly 800,000 cases each year. The 62 judges, 16 referees and more than 550 staff members strive to offer an accessible, fair, courteous, efficient and innovative system of justice.
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NEWS AND NOTICES
New May 1, 2008 Judge Charles Porter issues sentence in State of MN v. Myon Burrell (27CR0298794). The sentence is as follows: counts 1 and 2 (Murder in the First Degree and Murder in the First Degree for the Benefit of a Gang) life in prison plus 60 months; counts 5 and 6 (Attempted Murder in the First Degree and Attempted Murder in the First Degree for the Benefit of a Gang) 180 months plus 6 months. Time served on all counts shall be consecutive. Further, the defendant shall pay restitution in the amount of $11,303.75 or more and that obligation is joint and several with co-defendants Hans Williams and Ike Tyson. The defendant is eligible for 1,982 days of credit for time already served. The sentencing follows Judge Porters April 9, 2008 decision (after a bench trial) to convict the defendant on four counts related to the killing of 11 year old victim Tyesha Edwards and the attempted killing of Timothy Oliver. Read the detailed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order (pdf) filed on April 9, 2008 for Judge Porter's legal analysis and reasons for the decision.
April 10, 2008 Fourth Judicial District conducts Access and Fairness Survey. As part of a statewide effort to study access and fairness in the courts, judges and staff donned "You Be the Judge" tee shirts and collected over 250 responses. Photo below: Chief Judge Lucy Wieland (at left) and Nancy Peters of District Court Public Affairs gather opinions from court customers.
April 11, 2008 Judge Kevin Burke issues Findings of Fact and Verdict in State v. Zachary King. Following a bench trial, Judge Burke finds Mr. King not guilty of manslaughter in the second degree for the death of Mr. King's child, Zach Jr. Read the the Findings of Fact and Verdict (pdf) for Judge Burke's legal analysis and reasons for the verdict.
March 31, 2008 is Judge Allen Oleisky Day. Read the Proclamation (pdf) issued by Governor Tim Pawlenty in honor of Judge Oleisky's retirement from the bench as Minnesota's longest serving District Court judge.
Judge Allen Oleisky is pictured below with former Governor Wendell Anderson, who first appointed Judge Oleisky to the bench in July, 1972.
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New! Walk-in counter and telephone services will be curtailed Wednesday afternoons, 1:30-4:30 p.m., beginning January 2, 2008 to allow court staff to complete necessary case processing, filing and other administrative functions.
All court appearances and trials will continue as scheduled on Wednesday afternoons.
All court locations have reduced hours on Wednesday afternoons, including downtown locations at the Hennepin County Government Center, City Hall, Family Justice Center, Juvenile Justice Center, Public Safety Facility and the suburban locations at Brookdale, Ridgedale and Southdale. Drop boxes for filings or payments by check are available at all locations.
Court users will no longer be able to pay traffic tickets in person, see a hearing officer, request copies of court files or receive information about cases via telephone on Wednesday afternoons at all locations.
The court will no longer conduct criminal record checks for the public. This information is accessible through the MNCIS Public Access (MPA) Web site. Conciliation Court records are accessible through the Hennepin County Conciliation Court Records Search page. The public terminals will be available during regular business hours, except for Wednesdays 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Hennepin County services (probation, driver's licenses, tax payments, etc.) are not affected.
Forms, instructions and other information to begin a court process are available to the public on the Web site at www.mncourts.gov/district/4.
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Susan Ledray & Katrina Zabinski of the Self-Help Center receive 2008 John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award from Helen Burke of the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information on March 14, 2008. More information...
"Stop on Red" Traffic Ruling Update (February 2008) available here.
Governor Pawlenty appoints four new judges to the Fourth Judicial District (February 6, 2008).
State of MN v. Larry Craig case (October 15, 2007) available here.
Hennepin County Chemical Dependency Task Force Report (pdf) (September 11, 2007) released.
"So You Received a Ticket, Now What?" informational video released (click to watch) - July 10, 2007. More information about what to do if you receive a traffic ticket is available on the Violations Bureau page and on the Hearing Office page.