27-CR-20-12949: State vs. Tou Thao

Because of social distancing protocols and the potential number of attorneys appearing, there is no public seating available in courtroom C-1856 for this hearing.

Courtroom C-1059, located on the 10^th floor, will be designated as an overflow courtroom for members of the media. The courtroom will have an audio and video feed of the proceedings, and a capacity of 19 seats. Doors to courtroom C-1059 will open at 11:30 a.m. for members of the media to enter.

There will be 11 seats reserved for members of the media in this courtroom, with the remaining 7 seats available to other members of the media on a first-come, first served basis. There is no pool reporting requirement associated with the reserved seats, which follow the following categories:

• Local Writer - MN (newspaper, blog, or website) - Star Tribune
• National Writer (newspaper, blog, or website) - Washington Post
• National Writer (newspaper, blog, or website) 
• Radio (serving both local and national) - MPR News
• Local TV - MN - FOX 9
• Local TV – MN - WCCO-TV
• Local TV - MN - KARE 11
• Local TV - MN - KSTP
• National TV
• National TV
• Wire Service - Associated Press

Additionally, one seat has been set aside for a sketch artist in the overflow courtroom. Media outlets should email Spenser Bickett with the name of the reporter who will use the seat to have one reserved. Reporters should be prepared to present credentials in order to access their reserved seat.

Media members may use laptops or smartphones to take notes or provide social media updates during the hearing. They cannot use these devices to record during the hearing.

Because of significant interest in this case, an audio and video feed of the proceedings will be played in an overflow courtroom on the 10th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center.

Courtroom C-1055 will be used as an overflow courtroom. Because of social distancing protocols, there are 11 seats available in courtroom C-1055. Those seats are available on a first-come, first-served, basis.  

Waiting for seats in the overflow courtroom will take place starting at 11:30 a.m. at a designated spot in the hallway outside the courtroom. 

Recording devices are allowed in Minnesota District Courts under the conditions prescribed in Rule 4 of the General Rules of Practice. Media covering cases by audio/visual means are expected to be fully aware of all details contained in the Rule.

For more information about camera use Hennepin County Court locations, please read the Memorandum of Understanding Governing the Usage of Cameras and Recording Devices in Fourth District Court Facilities (pdf).

Hennepin County has implemented additional requirements for entry to all county buildings, which include all Hennepin County District Court courthouses. All visitors will be required to:

• Wear a face covering
• Maintain 6 feet of social distance.

Do not enter the building if you have had any COVID-19 symptoms.

You will be required to follow Minnesota Department of Health social distancing guidelines while in the courthouse. Learn more about safety measures all courthouses are following to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by visiting the Reopening webpage.
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Learn more about how courts have responded to COVID-19 by the Emergency webpage.

The Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure govern the court procedures in prosecutions of felonies, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and petty misdemeanors in the Minnesota State District Courts.  Questions about the procedures for hearings and other parts of the case process can be addressed by referring to these rules.

Access to case exhibits is governed by Minn. R. Pub. Access 8, subd. 5, which states that except where access is restricted by court order, “documents and physical objects admitted into evidence in a proceeding that is open to the public shall be available for public inspection under such conditions as the court administrator may deem appropriate to protect the security of the evidence.”  Additionally, the rule provides that in general evidentiary exhibits from a hearing or trial shall not be remotely accessible.

In this case, pursuant to Rule 8, the court has ordered that all publicly accessible documents related to this case, that are otherwise not remotely accessible, shall be posted on a public website.  That order does not authorize remote access to any non-documentary exhibits (recordings). 

The following exhibits in this case are available for copying:

• Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 4 filed in support of the memorandum in support of motion to dismiss filed on August 5, 2020.
• Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, Exhibit 3, Exhibit 4, and Exhibit 5 filed by the State on August 12, 2020.

Please submit your copy requests via Public Affairs, and we will begin processing your request.
 
Any requested copies will be available for payment and pick-up at the public service counter on the 11th floor of the C-Tower of the Hennepin County Government Center. This counter is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. You will be contacted once your copies are available for pickup.
 
Per Minn. Stat. § 357.021, subd. 2(2), plain copies of exhibits are $8 per exhibit. Payment via cash, check, or credit card must be submitted at pickup.