New Limitations at Court Facilities
Per an
order from Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea, the Minnesota Judicial Branch is limiting in-person activities in court facilities in response to increased COVID-19 infection rates in Minnesota:
- Jury Trials: Jury trials in progress will continue until complete. No new jury trials will begin prior to February 1, 2021. Exceptions may be granted for in-person proceedings under limited circumstances.
- Remote Hearings: All hearings will be conducted remotely. Exceptions may be granted for in-person proceedings under limited circumstances.
- Public Access: At least one counter service window must be open during normal business hours. Services may be provided remotely or by appointment only. See below for current information on public access to our court facilities.
- Self-Help Center services are available by phone and email.
Important Notice
Effective, Monday, November 30, 2020, the Rice County Courthouse is closed until further notice due to the recent surge of new cases of COVID-19 and increasing concerns for public health.
We encourage you to call or email Rice County Court Administration to answer questions on how to file paperwork with the court for any type of case. Court Administration staff will advise you of the process and provide answers to your questions.
Phone: (507) 497-7134
Contact by email
Fax: (507) 332-6199
All court hearings will be held remotely when possible. You should receive a notice of remote hearing that will include zoom information for your hearing.
If you received notice or were told to appear in-person during the time when the building is closed, there will be county staff to direct you to the appropriate courtroom. If you have a court case scheduled in Rice County District Court and have questions, please call (507) 497-7134.