News Item
Anoka County to celebrate Law Day with Open Courthouse event

Posted: Thursday, March 24, 2016

April 29 event to feature courthouse tours, legal clinics, and information fair
 
On Friday, April 29, the Anoka County Courthouse and Government Center in downtown Anoka will open its doors to the public as part of a Law Day “Open Courthouse” event. The event is designed to showcase the work of Minnesota’s justice system, and educate students and the public about the role of judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and citizens in administering the justice system. The public and media are invited to attend the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
“Our justice system belongs to the people, and it is critically important that citizens understand how judges, attorneys, and law enforcement work together to peacefully resolve cases and keep our communities safe,” said Tenth Judicial District Court Judge Bethany Fountain Lindberg, one of 16 judges chambered in the Anoka County Courthouse. “This Law Day, we are inviting the people we serve into our courthouse to get a behind-the-scenes look at their justice system, take part in free legal service clinics, and learn about the programs and services that are available to them through the courts and other justice system partners.”
 
As part of the Open Courthouse event in Anoka, community members can take part in free legal service clinics to get help from volunteer attorneys and quickly and efficiently take care of important business they may have with the justice system. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to:
  • Get help with family law issues – such as child support, custody, parenting time, paternity, divorce, and domestic violence – from volunteer attorneys;
  • Get information and legal help with issues related to guardianships, conservatorships, and power of attorney;
  • Learn how to begin the process of expunging adult, juvenile, and eviction court records with help from volunteer attorneys;
  • Resolve outstanding warrants for criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, and discuss resolution of outstanding issues in some felony cases;
  • Address unpaid court fines and fees;
  • Speak to volunteer attorneys about immigration law issues; and
  • Talk to officials from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Division of Driver and Vehicle Services about reinstating a suspended driver’s license.
For members of the public, including students, interested in learning more about their local justice system, the event will also feature:
  • Guided courthouse tours with presentations by local district court judges and justice system partners;
  • An information fair with an opportunity to learn more about Minnesota’s justice system and its partner organizations; and
  • Demonstrations of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.
Courthouse tours will be given every hour, on the hour, beginning at 9 a.m., with the last tour beginning at 2 p.m. Legal service clinics and information sessions will be held throughout the day, and the public is encouraged to visit www.mncourts.gov/AnokaLawDay2016 for a detailed event schedule and additional event information. In addition, the attached PDF provides an overview of the day’s activities and summaries of the various legal clinics and information sessions available to visitors.
 
Members of the public can stay up-to-date on the event by following #AnokaLawDay2016 on Twitter.
 
The Anoka County Courthouse and Government Center is located at 2100 3rd Ave. in downtown Anoka. No cost parking is available in the ramp located on Jackson Street, and public parking for a fee is located in the ramp located on Van Buren Street.
 
The Anoka County Open Courthouse event is scheduled to coincide with Law Day, a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process have contributed to the freedoms that all Americans share. Law Day was first established in 1958 through a proclamation by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 1 as Law Day, U.S.A. in 1961.
 
The Anoka County Open Courthouse event is being hosted by Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District in partnership with Anoka County and many local justice system partners. A complete list of event partners is available at www.mncourts.gov/AnokaLawDay2016.