Site Navigation

• 5th Home

• District Administration Office

  • Media and Public Affairs

• District Administrative Orders

• Court Forms

• Court Administration

  • Blue Earth County
  • Brown County
  • Cottonwood County
  • Faribault County
  • Jackson County
  • Lincoln County
  • Lyon County
  • Martin County
  • Murray County
  • Nicollet County
  • Nobles County
  • Pipestone County
  • Redwood County
  • Rock County
  • Watonwan County

• Drug Courts

  • Adult Drug Courts

• Early Neutral Evaluation Program (ENE)

  • Early Case Management (ECM) Program
  • Initial Case Management Conference (ICMC)
  • Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) Process
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process
  • Attorney/No Attorney (Pro Se)
  • ECM/ENE Program Contact

• Employment Opportunities

• Fee Schedule

• Finance

• Guardian Ad Litem

• Judges

• Jury Service

• Legal Terms

  • Legal Terms List

• Limited English Proficiency Plans

• Programs and Services

• Parents Forever Classes

• Resources In Other Languages

Early Case Management (ECM) Program

Beginning in 2005, the 3^rd and 5^th judicial districts began taking steps to implement the Early Case Management. A proposal was written and submitted to the Judicial Council. From there the Judicial Council adapted the process into the Strategic Plan, making this program one of the priorities for the State of Minnesota. The 3^rd/5^th districts applied and received grant funding to implement the program within the two districts and assist with statewide implementation. 

The fair and efficient administration of justice requires that all cases in family court receive timely attention. This requires the judicial system to handle cases expeditiously and with consistency, fairness and sound decisions.  The court manages the process and disposition of the cases before it. The Early Case Management (ECM) approach that funded the 3^rd/5^th Judicial District Pilot Program uses aggressive case management timing by establishing judicial intervention on cases within fifteen days of filing. The initial meeting with the judge is called an Initial Case Management Conference (ICMC). The judges involvement soon after the filing encourages the parties and their attorneys (if represented) to focus on resolving and narrowing the contested issues that are barriers to settlement.