News Item
New Online Scheduling Tool Available for Early Neutral Evaluations

Posted: Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The state Early Case Management (ECM)/Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) Program has made available a new Provider Availability and Scheduling System (PASS) for use statewide, which Goodhue County District Court was the first to use as it launched its new local ECM/ENE program on Oct. 30, 2017. 

The implementation of PASS is revolutionizing the administration of ECM/ENE programs across the state by incorporating several systems for managing ENE provider rosters, roster applications, and verification of provider qualifications and availability, into one system that also allows for in-courtroom scheduling of ENE sessions.

Counties across the state are launching PASS in Initial Case Management Conferences (ICMCs) and Initial Motion Management Conferences (IMMCs). If parties opt into ENEs, the Social ENE (SENE) or Financial ENE (FENE) providers will be selected and the date, time, and location of the SENE or FENE will be scheduled in the courtroom during the ICMC/ IMMC. 

Parties and attorneys should bring their calendars with them to the ICMC/IMMC. Best Practices recommend scheduling the SENE within seven (7) to fourteen (14) days of the ICMC, and of the FENE within 30 days. Parties and attorneys are encouraged to search the rosters and schedules in advance of the ICMC/IMMC, but should be aware that schedules change and particular dates and providers may already be booked by the time they enter the courtroom.  Parties may preview rosters and provider schedules in the dropdown menu on the Early Case Management (ECM)/Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) website county information tab prior to their ICMCs starting. 

PASS is launching (or has launched) in the following counties:
Anoka: November 30, 2017
Carlton: January 26, 2018
Carver: January 18, 2018
Chisago: November 30, 2017
Cook: January 26, 2018
Goodhue: October 30, 2017
Isanti: November 30, 2017
Itasca: January 18, 2018
Kanabec: November 30, 2017
Lake: January 26, 2018
Olmsted: February 26, 2018
Pine: November 30, 2017
Ramsey: February or March 2018 (four judicial officers)
Saint Louis-Duluth: January 26, 2018
Saint Louis-Virginia: January 26, 2018
Scott: January 18, 2018
Sherburne: November 30, 2017
Wright: November 30, 2017
Dates for additional counties will be announced later in the year.

The ECM approach to family law cases uses aggressive, early judicial intervention to encourage parties to focus on resolving and narrowing the contested issues that are barriers to settlement. ENE strives to move families through court efficiently and inexpensively by working with them early on to reach agreements that will foster the best interests of their families.