Going to Court in Hennepin County

Hennepin County District Court »
 

Courtrooms are located in six (6) buildings, including four in downtown Minneapolis and two in the suburbs. Everyone who enters courtrooms must pass through weapons screening. The buildings are managed by Hennepin County.

Find a Courtroom

Most Hennepin County court buildings have display monitors with information about daily hearings (e.g., party names, courtrooms, and judges). Hearing information is also listed in the daily Court Calendar. If you cannot find a hearing location, contact Court Administration.

Give yourself enough time to get to the courthouse, park, pass through weapons screening, and find your courtroom. If you are late for your hearing or miss it, you may not be allowed to reschedule it. View the daily Court Hearing Calendar.

Tips about the Government Center: The Government Center building has a C-Tower (for courts) and an A-Tower (for county administration). There are security checkpoints on the 2nd floor (skyway) of each tower. The security checkpoint in the C-Tower is often very busy, so you could go through the checkpoint in the A-Tower, and then use one of the bridge floors to cross back over to the courtrooms in the C-Tower. You can also use elevators and stairways to move between floors.

Hennepin County Court Locations »

FJC = Family Justice Center
GC = Government Center
JJC = Juvenile Justice Center
PSF = Public Safety Facility
Suburban Courts = Regional service centers near Brookdale and Ridgedale

Civil Court
Courtrooms: Floors C3 - C11 and C13 - C19
Hennepin Co. Govt. Center (GC)
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN  55487  Map »

Civil Division - Conciliation Court
300 South 6th Street, 3rd floor Court Tower
Minneapolis, MN  55415  Map »

Criminal Court - Division 1
Courtrooms: Floors C3 – C11 and C13 – C19
Hennepin Co. Govt. Center (GC)
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN  55487  Map »

Criminal Court - Division 1
Courtrooms: 1st Floor
Hennepin Co. Public Safety Facility (PSF)
401 4th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55415  Map »

Criminal Court - Division 2
Courtrooms: 1st Floor
Brookdale Regional Center
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN  55430  Map »

Criminal Court - Division 3
Courtrooms: 3rd Floor
Ridgedale Regional Center
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN  55305  Map »

Family Court
Courtrooms: Floors 1, 4, 5, 6
Family Justice Center (FJC)
110 South 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN  55401  Map »

Housing Court
Courtrooms: 3rd Floor
Hennepin Co. Govt. Center
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN  55487  Map »

Juvenile Court
Courtrooms: Floors 2 and 3
Juvenile Justice Center (JJC)
590 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55415  Map »

Probate / Mental Health Court
Courtrooms: Floors C4 and C5
Hennepin Co. Govt. Center
300 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN  55487  Map »

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Bus & Train
Visit the Metro Transit website for routes and current schedules. Use the Plan a Trip tool to find the bus line closest to you, travel, and departure times. All Hennepin Court locations can be reached by bus or light rail.

Parking
Find information for city-owned parking ramps and parking meters near the courthouse on the City of Minneapolis website

Parking meters have varying time restrictions and rates. Time restrictions and rates are posted at each metered space. There are city-owned and privately-owned parking ramps located in downtown Minneapolis, with varying rates.


The suburban court locations have free parking lots. Visit Traffic 511 for current traffic conditions.

Skyways
You can download a skyway map from Move Minneapolis, which provides information about how to access the Government Center, Public Safety Facility, City Hall, parking ramps, and transit stations from the street and skyway levels.

Bicycle
The Bicycling in the City of Minneapolis website has bike maps, bike sharing information, and more. All Hennepin County court locations are accessible by bicycle in downtown Minneapolis and the suburbs.
District Court has multiple locations where remote hearing technology is available for public use when needed for joining a remote hearing. A tablet with video and audio capability is provided either in a room or cubicle, depending on location. There are also community resources at non-court locations that provide the use of technology to attend virtual remote hearings.
 
In the Hearing Office, there is 1 booth and 3 cubicle stations with tablets. The Hearing Office is in the C-Tower on the Skyway level, with the entrance just beyond the weapons screening area. Tablets are available for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. To request to use a tablet, check in at the Hearing Office front counter. It is recommended to bring your own headphones with microphone capability, but headphones will be provided if needed.
 
On the 11th Floor of the C-Tower, 2 tablets are available with an option to use in a private conference room. Tablets are available for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. To request to use a tablet, check in at the C11 Criminal District Court front counter.
 
At the Law Library on the 24th Floor of the C-Tower in room C2451, 1 tablet and 1 mobile workstation are available with an option to use in a private conference room. The mobile workstation includes a computer with camera and microphone, scanner, and printer. Tablet and mobile workstation are available for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. No reservation is required, but you can make a reservation. Reserve a room by phone at (612) 348-2903. To request to use a tablet or mobile workstation without a reservation, check in at the public service desk at the Law Library on the 24th floor.
2 tablets are available, with an option to use in a private conference room. Tablets are available for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. To request to use a tablet, check in at the Criminal District Court front counter.
4 tablets are available. 2 tablets are in Room 157, and 2 are in Room 160. Tablets are for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. For questions regarding use of the tablets, check in at the Family Justice Center front counter.
1 booth and 1 room with tablets are available on the 3rd Floor. Tablets and booths are for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. To request to use a tablet, check in at the Juvenile District Court front counter.
3 tablets are available in Rooms 201, 202, 206. Tablets are for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. For questions regarding use of the tablets, check in at the Brookdale District Court front counter.
2 tablets are available, with an option to use in a private conference room. Tablets are for public use anytime during business hours which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No reservation is required. To request to use a tablet, check in at the Ridgedale District Court front counter on the 3rd floor.
3 video conference rooms are available in Rooms N-207, N-302, and N-408. These rooms are available for virtual court hearings as well as other types of video conferences and virtual meetings. Reservations are required; reserve a room by phone at 612-543-KNOW(5669) or online here.

Address:
300 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401
1 video conference room is available. Reservations are in 90-minute appointment slots, with availability Monday through Thursday 8:30a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; and Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Reservations are required; reserve a room by phone at (612) 825-3333.

Address:
4432 Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
The Minnesota Legal Services Coalition has legal kiosks in community locations throughout the state where the public can attend remote court hearings in a private space. Anyone can use the computer at one of these legal kiosks free of charge.  

To find a legal kiosk available for remote court hearings, choose the option for “locations that have privacy.” These kiosks will also have printers and scanners for your use. Details about the private kiosks and contact information to reserve the computer are available on the Locations page.
Remember that the court is a formal place and you should be respectful in your behavior and conservative in the clothes you wear in court.
 
  • Be on time for your hearing. If you miss your hearing, you may not be allowed to reschedule it.
  • Dress appropriately. Clean, neat and professional clothing is appropriate for court. Shorts, t-shirts, low necklines, and torn clothing are not appropriate.
  • Do not use ANY electronic device to take photos or record video or audio in OR near any courtroom. This includes cell phones, smart phones, tablets, pagers, or other recording devices. Some courts do not allow electronic devices in the courtroom, even if turned off. Learn more about the policy on cameras in the courtroom.
  • In the courtroom, do NOT...carry a weapon, chew gum or tobacco, eat, drink, read a newspaper, sleep, wear a hat, or use electronic devices.
  • Only one person may speak at a time in the courtroom. A court reporter is recording everything that is said during a hearing, and he can only record one speaker at a time. Ask for permission to speak, and address the judge as "Your Honor."
  • Do not bring children to court. Unless the judge has told you to bring your children to the hearing, please arrange for someone to take care of your children. If you must bring them to court, please bring a responsible person to care for them outside of the courtroom.
  • No smoking or use of tobacco-related products may be inside or outside the Hennepin County-owned buildings. See Tobacco-Free Policy for Hennepin County Property.
  • Also see the Hennepin County Government Center building and plaza rules
To protect the public and court employees, courthouses have metal detectors like those at airports and other government buildings. Under Minnesota law, it is a crime for a person in a "courthouse complex" to possess a dangerous weapon, ammunition or explosives. The law applies to court employees as well as members of the public. Licensed peace officers on duty and on official business are exempt. See MN Statutes § 609.66 subd. 1(g).

Please do NOT bring any item that could be used as a weapon to any courthouse. Those items will not be allowed in areas beyond screening checkpoints, and illegal weapons will be confiscated. There may be a line a the security checkpoint, so please allow yourself enough time to get to a court hearing or other appointment in the courthouse.


Prohibited Items

If you bring an item to the courthouse that could be used as a weapon and you enter the weapons screening checkpoint, security officers will give you the option to remove the item from the courthouse or security will put it in a "disposal" box.

Dangerous items confiscated by Security will NOT be returned to you. Examples of prohibited items include, but are not limited to:
  • Firearms;
  • Cutting tools or bladed instruments of any size;
  • Electronic incapacitation devices, such as stun guns, tasers, etc.;
  • Personal protection sprays such as chemical mace, pepper spray and any other protective chemical aerosol; and
  • Any other items that appear to be designed or used as weapons, and that are capable of inflicting serious bodily harm.

Cameras and Electronic Recording Devices

According to Rule 4 of the MN Rules of General Practice for the District Courts, no pictures or voice recordings, except the making of the official court record, shall be made in any courtroom or any area of the courthouse where courtrooms are located.
 

Hours:

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Closed holidays
 

Court Locations »

 

Directory:

ADA Accommodation Request (612) 348-5181
Child Support Hearings (612) 348-6734
Citations (612) 348-2040
Citations - Email
Civil Court (612) 348-3164
Conciliation Court (612) 348-2713
Court Information Line (612) 348-6000
Linea de Informacion (Español) (612) 596-9275

Court Records Center (612) 348-3170
Court Reporter Unit (612) 596-2870
Criminal Court (612) 348-2040
Criminal Court - Email
Criminal Court Records (612) 348-2040
District Administration (612) 348-2040
District Administration - Email
Domestic Abuse Service Center (612) 348-5073
Drug Court (612) 348-2040
eFile & eServe Help (855) 291-8246
Evictions (612) 348-5186
Expungements - Criminal Court (612) 348-2040
Expungements - Housing Court (612) 348-5186
Family Court (612) 348-6734
Family Court Records (612) 596-1089
Family Court Self Help Center (612) 596-8519
Fines (612) 348-2040
Guardian ad Litem Program (Family Court) (612) 596-7540
Guardian ad Litem Program (Juvenile Court) (612) 348-6824
Guardianship / Conservatorship (Probate Court) (612) 348-3244
Guardianship / Convservatorship - Email
Harassment Restraining Orders (612) 348-9399
Hearing Office (Citations/Tickets) (612) 348-2040
Housing Court (612) 348-5186
Human Resources (612) 348-2298
Implied Consent Cases (Civil) (612) 348-3164
Judges & Referees Directory
Judgments (Civil Court) (612) 348-3169
Judgments (Conciliation Court) (612) 348-2713
Jury Office (612) 348-3158
Juvenile Court (612) 348-4822
Juvenile Court (Español) (612) 596-7111
Juvenile Court - Email
Marriage Line (weddings) (612) 348-9962
Media & Public Affairs (612) 348-5022
Mental Health Court (612) 348-6868
Probate Court (612) 348-3244
Probate Court - Email
Probate Court Records (612) 348-8016
Property Court (Criminal) (612) 348-2040
Psychological Services (612) 348-3723
Public Affairs & Media (612) 348-5022
Public Case Records (612) 348-3170
Public Data Request - Email
Public Safety Facility (Criminal Court) (612) 348-2040
Records Center (Main) (612)348-3170
Security & Emergency (612) 348-5111
Self Help Center (Main) (612) 348-9399
Self Help Center (Family Court) (612) 596-8519
Self Help Center - Email
Small Claims (Conciliation) Court (612) 348-2713
Tickets & Fines (612) 348-2040
Tickets & Fines - Email
Traffic Court (612) 348-2040
Transcript Requests (612) 596-2870
Violations Bureau (612) 348-2040
Violations Bureau - Email
Webmaster (Hennepin) - Email
Weddings (Marriage Line) (612) 348-9962

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