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Minnesota Supreme Court

The Minnesota Supreme Court is, in effect, the final arbiter of the constitutional rights of the people of the state of Minnesota. Supreme Court decisions often serve as precedent for future cases.


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Group photo of the seven members of the Minnesota Supreme Court

Currently, the Supreme Court reviews petitions in approximately 800 cases a year and accepts review in about 1 in 8 cases. These cases can come from the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals, Tax Court, Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, and Board of Judicial Standards. Election contests and appeals for first-degree murder cases are automatically appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is responsible for the regulation of the practice of law and for judicial and lawyer discipline. Additionally, as the highest court in Minnesota, it promulgates rules of practice and procedure for the legal system in the state.

Each justice is a liaison to a number of Supreme Court boards and other state policy commissions that are charged with responsibilities ranging from day-to-day administration to strategic planning.


About the Court:

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It is always possible that a matter scheduled for oral argument might be stricken or rescheduled.
For current information, contact the Clerk of Appellate Courts at (651) 296-2581.
Monthly Argument Calendars 2016-2017
Time, date and location of arguments, attorneys of record, and links to court of appeals opinions.
Issue Summaries
Summary of issues prepared by the Supreme Court Commissioner's Office.
June 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
June 2017
May 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
May 2017
April 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
April 2017
March 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
March 2017
February 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
February 2017
January 2017
 (Adobe PDF)
January 2017
December 2016
 (Adobe PDF)
December 2016
November 2016
 (Adobe PDF)
November 2016
October 2016
 (Adobe PDF)
October 2016
September 2016
 (Adobe PDF)
September 2016


Justice Matters: Cases that Shaped Law and Society 

A co-production of the Minnesota Supreme Court and Twin Cities Public Television's (TPT) Minnesota Channel.

Supreme Court Oral Arguments

The Minnesota Supreme Court makes webcasts of oral arguments held before the court available on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.

These webcasts are available in a searchable, online database of archived Supreme Court oral arguments, which allows users to access all recorded oral arguments from September 2005 to the present.

View webcasts of oral arguments
The Supreme Court hears oral arguments during the first two weeks of each month from September through June.
  • Week one oral arguments occur in the courtroom on the 2 nd floor of the State Capitol.
  • Week two arguments occur in Courtroom 300 on the 3rd floor of the Minnesota Judicial Center.
Attend Oral Arguments at the State Capitol Courtroom
The Supreme Court typically hears oral arguments at the capitol during the first week of each month, excluding July and August. Please view the Supreme Court Calendar for more information.

The State Capitol Courtroom has limited seating, there are approximately 36 seats in the courtroom and this includes seating for attorneys involved in oral arguments and their clients.  Seating is first-come, first-serve. Visitors must sit in the audience area of the courtroom. Standing is prohibited during oral arguments.

If you have a group interested in viewing oral arguments, please contact Lissa Finne in the Court Information Office.

Overflow seating may also be arranged accross the street from the Capitol at the Minnesota Judicial Center.
Attend Oral Arguments at the Minnesota Judicial Center
​The Supreme Court typically hears oral arguments at the Minnesota Judicial Center during the second week of each month, excluding July and August. Please view the Supreme Court Calendar for more information.

If you have a group interested in viewing oral arguments, please contact Lissa Finne in the Court Information Office.
 
Courtroom Decorum
Please help us maintain decorum.
Issues of statewide importance are decided based on oral arguments. Therefore, it is critical that the justices and attorneys work without distraction. Please consider the following guidelines while in court:
  • Sit in the audience area of the courtroom. Standing is prohibited during oral arguments.
  • Remain silent during the proceedings.
  • You may not eat, drink, chew gum or use tobacco in the courtroom.
  • Remove hats before entering the courtroom.
  • No demonstrations are allowed, including signs, banners or displays of symbols.
  • Electronic recording devices are prohibited, except when permission is given to the media
  • Turn off all cell phones before entering the courtroom. 
More information on Oral Argumments »