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Safely Reopening Court Facilities

Information about jury service »

District and appellate courts are undertaking a thorough and gradual approach to increasing the number and type of in-person activities held in court facilities as the pandemic’s impact on Minnesota continues to recede. The courts will continue to follow guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in order to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of court interactions.

Symptoms & Contact

Do not visit any court facility if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Symptoms:

  • chills,
  • cough,
  • muscle pain,
  • sore throat,
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
  • fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, or
  • new loss of taste or smell.

If you are required to visit a court facility but have symptoms or have had exposure in the last 14 days contact the court or your attorney as soon as possible, rather than come to the courthouse. See the Minnesota Department of Health Visitor and Employee Health Screening Checklist for more information about symptoms screening.

Social Distancing

Social distancing is not required in court facilities.

Face Coverings

Face coverings are not required in courthouses. Judges, employees, and courthouse visitors are allowed to wear face coverings in court facilities if they choose to do so, although judges may direct people to remove face coverings as necessary to conduct court hearings.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Courts continue to ensure that appropriate cleaning and disinfecting is conducted. Additional cleaning measures, consistent with CDC recommendations, will be implemented if someone in the court facility is confirmed positive with COVID-19.

Exposure Notification Protocols

The Minnesota Judicial Branch is following notification protocols based on guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health. In accordance with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidance, state courts will notify all individuals who were in close contact in a court facility with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
Court facilities are owned and operated by county leadership, not the courts. Therefore, local requirements for entry may vary.

Select the county you are visiting to learn more about local expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic for courthouse entry.

Select a County:

For information about Aitkin County’s local requirements for courthouse entry, please visit the Aitkin COVID-19 webpage. If you have questions about visiting the courthouse please contact the court via email or phone (218) 927-7350.

Public Service Counter

The public service counter is open Monday – Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.


Appellate Filings

Appellate filings continue to be accepted via e-filing through the E-MACS system and by U.S. Mail at:
Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts
305 Judicial Center
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155.    
 

By Phone

Telephone inquiries are answered Monday - Friday, excluding holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m and 4:30 p.m. Voicemail is available afterhours and when all staff members are assisting other callers.

For additional information please visit the Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts web page.