Non-Criminal Hearing Appearance

On April 19, 2022, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea issued an order  and announced a new Judicial Branch policy, the oneCourtMN Hearings Initiative Policy, laying out the framework for presumed hearing locations going forward.  The order is effective June 6, 2022.  The revised policy is effective January 3, 2023.
 

Criminal Hearing Appearance

Juvenile Delinquency Hearing Appearance

Judicial districts follow a statewide plan for using both remote and in-person hearings in non-criminal cases. Always look at your hearing notice for how to appear for court or contact the local court where the case is filed for more information about your hearing. View Case Types and Hearing Types Presumed Remote and In Person (PDF) to see the statewide plan.
 

Unless otherwise stated below, hearings in this category are generally remote. 

• All hearings in the Expedited Child Support Process are remote unless there is a court order that says the hearing is in person. This includes:
  • Hearings to establish, enforce and modify child support
  • Hearings to adjudicate parentage and contempt in counties that start parentage and contempt actions in the Expedited Child Support Process

• Evidentiary hearings are generally in person, except:
  • When the judicial officer is remote in Domestic Abuse and Harassment Evidentiary hearings
  • Paternity and Child Support  hearings in the Expedited Child Support Process
• Contempt hearings are generally in person, except hearings in the Expedited Child Support Process.
• Trials (including court and jury trials) are generally in person.
• Adoption hearings are generally in person.
• Child protection cases:
  • These hearings are generally in person:
    • Emergency Protective Care (EPC)
    • Admit/Deny
    • Permanency Progress Review
  • District courts may hold child protection hearings differently if it is approved by its chief judge.
• Probate/Mental Health cases: Order to Show Cause hearings are generally in person.
• Juvenile delinquency cases:
  • These hearings have moved to the criminal provision under the revised policy effective January 3, 2023.

Under policy changes effective January 3, 2023, the following hearing types are generally presumed to be in-person hearings:

• Pre-trial hearings in family cases
• Pre-trial hearings in civil cases
• Civil settlement conferences
• Civil temporary restraining order hearings

Under policy changes effective January 3, 2023, the following hearing types are generally presumed to be remote hearings:

• Guardianship/Conservatorship Order to Show Cause