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Schedule released for St. Cloud “Open Courthouse” event on April 28

Posted: Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Visitors to the Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud on April 28 will have the opportunity to meet a Minnesota Supreme Court justice and local district court judges, take a guided “behind-the-scenes” tour of the courthouse, learn about Minnesota’s justice system from justice partner experts, and visit a self-guided information fair to learn about legal resources available in the community. Visitors will also be able to view a demonstration of the Stearns County K-9 unit, displays highlighting the history of Stearns County and the courthouse, and artwork commemorating the Stearns County Courthouse created by students from Clearview Elementary School.
 
All of these opportunities are being offered as part of an “open courthouse” event being hosted by Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District in partnership with Stearns County and many local justice partners. The event is being held to commemorate “Law Day,” a day set aside by Congress to celebrate how the legal process contributes to our nation’s freedoms and safety. The event is designed to showcase the work of Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District, and educate the public about the role of judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and citizens in administering Minnesota’s justice system.
 
The public and media are invited to attend the event. The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28, at the Stearns County Courthouse, 725 Courthouse Square, in downtown St. Cloud.
 
Below is a schedule of events for April 28:
 
12:45 p.m.
Event Kick-Off and Plaque Rededication Ceremony
3rd Floor, Ceremonial Courtroom
 
  • Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea and Seventh Judicial District Chief Judge John H. Scherer will welcome visitors and give a brief introduction to Minnesota’s justice system. Following the keynote address, a ceremony will be held to rededicate the plaque of Stearns County district court judges by adding Judge Pearson’s name.
 
1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“Behind-the-scenes” Courthouse Tours
Tours begin every 30 minutes from the 3rd Floor Ceremonial Courtroom
 
  • Guests will have an opportunity to explore courtrooms, a judge’s chambers, the jury assembly room, and other parts of Stearns County’s historic courthouse through a 45-minute guided tour. Along the way, visitors will hear from local district court judges, prosecutors, public defenders, probation agents, and law enforcement officers about various aspects of Minnesota’s justice system.
 
12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Information Fair
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Floor Rotundas
 
  • Visitors can take a self-guided walk through information fair designed to showcase the work of many of the justice system partners in the local community, share legal resources available to the public, and highlight new advancements in criminal justice and court technology being implemented across the state. Guests can also meet an officer and dog from the Stearns County K-9 unit.
 
12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Informational Displays: Self Help Legal Resources; Stearns County History; Artwork by Local Students
Throughout the courthouse
 
  • Throughout the courthouse, informational displays will provide visitors information on no-cost and low-cost legal assistance available to Minnesotans; the unique history of Stearns County, the Stearns County Courthouse, and the local justice system; and artwork by students from Clearview Elementary School created specifically for the Law Day event.
 
Information about the event is posted at www.mncourts.gov/StearnsOpenHouse.
 
The Stearns County Courthouse is located at 725 Courthouse Square in St. Cloud. Directions and parking information is available on the Stearns County website. Stearns County Courthouse is a secured building, and all visitors are subject to screening before entering.