News Item
Anoka County Open Courthouse features free clinic on expunging criminal, juvenile, and eviction records

Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016

In 2015, more than 3,000 Minnesotans successfully went to court to seal an existing court record through a legal process known as expungement. People typically seek an expungement when they have been denied a job, housing, or a professional license because of a previous conviction or housing eviction in the court record.
On Friday, April 29, visitors to the Anoka County Open Courthouse event – being held at the Anoka County Government Center and Courthouse in downtown Anoka – will have the opportunity to learn about the process of seeking expungement of a criminal, juvenile, or eviction-related court record, and to get help from volunteer attorneys on how to begin the expungement process.
There will be two expungement-related clinics offered during the day:
  • A 9 a.m. presentation will include information regarding the process on criminal and juvenile expungements. Volunteer attorneys will then be on hand until 3 p.m. to help clients fill out the necessary court forms and other documentation. 
  • A 1 p.m. presentation will include information of eviction, criminal, and juvenile expungements. Volunteer attorneys will be available until 3 p.m. to help clients fill out the necessary court forms and other documentation. 
Participants will be able to complete all the necessary expungement forms during the clinic and be able to arrange a future court date where their petition to expunge their record will be heard.
The expungement clinics are sponsored by Central Minnesota Legal Services and the Volunteer Lawyers Network. The clinics will be held in Room 237 of the Anoka County Government Center. Help is available at no cost to all visitors, regardless of county of residence.
Other Resources Available at the Anoka County Open Courthouse event
In addition to the expungement clinics detailed above, the Anoka County Open Courthouse event will feature many other opportunities for visitors to learn about their justice system, and get help with common legal issues. The event will feature:
  • Guided courthouse tours with presentations by local district court judges and justice system partners;
  • Free legal clinics on family law, immigration, and Power of Attorney/Guardianship issues;
  • Clinics to learn more about resolving outstanding warrants and reinstating a suspended driver’s license;
  • 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.
To learn more about the event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 29, visit www.mncourts.gov/AnokaLawDay2016. Members of the public can stay up-to-date on the event by following #AnokaLawDay2016 on Twitter.
The Anoka County Courthouse 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.