Public Access TV Shows
Meet Your Court
"Meet Your Court" was a weekly public affairs program and community service of Hennepin County District Court / Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota. This 30-minute broadcast was launched to increase public understanding of the judiciary, the least-understood branch of government, and related issues.Guests included Minnesota governors, first ladies, Supreme Court justices, and Court of Appeals judges; state and federal trial court judges and legislators; local elected officials, court managers, prosecutors, public defenders, attorneys in private practice, police chiefs, probation officers, and journalists; and representatives of government agencies, and public interest, social service and community organizations, and others.
There are 158 episodes of "Meet Your Court," produced from 2000-2008. Judge Kevin S. Burke hosted 150 episodes. The producer was Ken Bergstrom. The last six episodes were co-produced with the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Law in Action
Also available is an earlier public access show, Law in Action, which was hosted by Doris Simonett, wife of former Supreme Court Justice John Simonett, and John Kanniainen. The Law in Action show aired from 1989 to 1997, included more than 180 episodes, and was the precursor to Meet Your Court. Interviewed on the show were people from throughout the judicial system including district court judges, Court of Appeals of judges and Supreme Court justices.
Both shows are available on the Minnesota Digital Law Library.
The District Court Show
Judge Stephen Halsey, now-retired Tenth Judicial District Court judge, created the monthly program that educates the public about the judicial system and includes more than 100 episodes. The host of the program interviews other judges, attorneys, police officials, as well as interested citizens. The show is currently being hosted by Assisant Chief Judge Elizabeth Strand and Judge Francis Greene, III.Visit Quad Cities Community Television's website for access to "The District Court Show."