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Community Outreach Initiatives

Engaging and educating the community--all community members are invited to learn about the judges, court intiatives and news of the Fourth Judicial District. Explore the different ways schools, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations and concerned citizens can learn more about the judiciary.  In the first six months of 2008, 29 events facilitated by 23 judicial officers and 55 staff reached over 6,000 attendees.

Speakers Bureau
Judges and court staff speak at schools, legal associations and other community organizations to help educate about the judiciary and court processes.

Community Events
To help educate and ensure access to court services, the Fourth District participates in several community events that reach out to families and children, communities of color and lower-income individuals.

Project Homeless Connect (December 2006, March 2007)
Volunteers from the Fourth Judicial District reached out to homeless people seeking legal services. Staff attorneys from the two Self Help Centers were on hand to answer questions about court procedures and provide the forms needed on a variety of topics including family court issues, traffic tickets, and criminal expungements.
National Project Homeless Connect website

Minnesota Veterans Summit Resource Fair (September 2006)
The Fourth Judicial District was a participant in a resource fair for returning soldiers and veterans. Two staff attorneys from the two Self Help Centers were on hand to answer questions about court procedure for expungements, child support, custody issues, and other topics. MN Veterans Summit website

Juvenile Justice Forum (July 2006)
The forum brought together justice stakeholders from the Fourth Judicial District Juvenile Court, Council of Crime and Justice, Hennepin County and social agencies for this public event.

Mock Trial Tournaments
University of St. Thomas (December 2007, April 2008)
Minnesota State Bar Association (winter 2006-7, winter 2007-8)
Hamline University Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament (March 2007, April 2008)

Court Tours--Free & Open to the Public
In 2008, more than 500 students, international judicial officers and administrators, business professionals and interested community members toured the Fourth Judicial District. Self-guided, free public tours are available during regular business hours.

"Meet Your Court" Cable Television Progam
"Meet Your Court" is a weekly public affairs program on Cable TV presented by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.  For information on the program, including the broadcast schedule and tape lending library, contact Ken Bergstrom at 612-348-3327.

Judicial Ride-Alongs
Community members get an inside look into the courts and being a judge with this unique opportunity to "shadow" a judge.

For assistance with Speakers Bureau, Community Events, Court Tours and Judicial Ride-Alongs contact:

Nancy Peters
Public Affairs
612-348-5022 (phone)
612-348-2131 (fax)
Send an email via our contact form