Anoka County Court Records
According to Rule 3 of the Minnesota Rules of Public Access, a court record is any piece of information that is created, collected, maintained, or distributed by a court or court administrator. The Clerk of Anoka County District Court maintains these records.
Court records bolster accountability and transparency in the justice system, enabling members of the public to access details regarding past and ongoing court cases. Also, court records are essential for legal researchers, professionals, and scholars, as they offer insights into case law, judicial decisions, and legal precedents.
Are Court Records Public in Anoka County?
Yes. The Minnesota Data Practices Act and Rule 8 of the Minnesota Rules of Public Access (RPA) ensures that court records are made available to the public upon request.
Moreover, certain court records are restricted to members of the public to access. Rule 4 of the RPA discusses in detail all the court records that are sealed or restricted from public access. The records that are restricted or sealed from public access in Anoka County include:
- Race records
- Medical records
- Court services records
- Administrative warrants
- Judicial work drafts and products
- Harassment or domestic abuse records
- Records pertaining to response to petitions for criminal expungement
- Records pertaining to requests for assistance not related to counsel and other resulting orders
What Do Anoka County Court Records Contain?
Anoka County court case records contain pieces of information regarding legal proceedings that took place within the county, including:
- Case information (case title, case number, case type, date filed, case location, citation number, and case status)
- Party information (jurisdiction, attorneys active, defendant, self-represented litigant)
- Charges (amended charge, statute, date amended, level of charge, offense date, community of offense, law enforcement agency, prosecuting agency)
- Case events (convictions sent to DPS, waiver, plea agreement, citation data summary, notice of remote hearing with instructions, and citation e-filed).
- Hearings
- Dispositions (an amended charge, statute, date amended, level of sentence, level of the sentence, level of charge, offense date, community of offense, fees, prosecuting agency)
- Financial information (Fines and fees, total payments and credits)
Where to Conduct an Anoka County Case Lookup
Members of the public can conduct an Anoka County case lookup at the following places:
How to Conduct an Anoka County Case Records Search
Anoka County District Court provides free access to court records electronically through the Minnesota Judicial Branch search portal and its public access terminals. A party’s name, attorney name, place, case number, attorney bar number, citation number, and business name will be required to search. Anoka County District Court also offers in-person counter access and mail request options to locally stored court records in paper form. In-person requests should be made at the Court’s File Room. The Court does not charge fees for plain copies of court records, but certified copies come with a fee. Mail requests should include the necessary fees in check, the name of the case, the file number (if known), the specific document requested, and a daytime phone number. The processing time for mail requests is 5 days. Send the mail to:
Anoka County Courthouse
ATTN: Court Administration Records Room
2100 3rd Ave
Anoka, MN 55303-2489
Anoka County Civil Court Case Records
A civil court record is a documentation of a proceeding concerning non-criminal disputes between at least two individuals or legal entities in civil courts. The Anoka County District Court Civil Division handles all civil court cases within the county. Civil court records can be accessed online, by mail, or in person at the Civil Division. Online requests can be made through the Access Case Records portal. The search criteria are by name, case number, citation number, or attorney. The best search option is the name or attorney search. This is because both portals allow inquirers to streamline their searches to civil cases only by selecting “Civil” under the case category. In-person requests can be made from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A name or case number will be required to facilitate the search. Certified copies of civil records come with a cost, but plain copies are for free.
Anoka County Criminal Court Case Records
Anoka County criminal court case records are official documents created or filed regarding situations by which an organization or person has been sued for defaulting state or federal laws. The District Court Criminal Division handles all criminal cases in Anoka County. Criminal court records can be accessed over the Internet, by mail, or in person at the Criminal Division. Online inquiries can be done through the Access Case Records search portal. The search criteria include case number, citation number, name, or attorney name. While they all provide unique search methods, the name or attorney search options are the best alternatives, as they enable requesters to search for criminal cases by clicking on the “Criminal” option under the case category. Requesters can also made in-person inquiries from Monday to Friday, during business hours. Inquirers will need a party’s name(s) or case number to conduct the search. While the plain copies are free, certified copies cost a little fee.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
The MCRO offers a search portal that enables members of the public to conduct a court record search. Therefore, requesters can follow the steps below to get court records online for free.
- Go to the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
- Click on the “Case Search” link.
- Requesters can perform a court case search using the following parameters:
- Name of either party of a court case: Here, the requester will need to choose between a person or business’s name to search. Then, the individual will need to insert the first and last name of a party, the date of birth, and the date of filing. Then, select the case category, case status, and court locations before searching.
- The case number: By using this search option, the requester will only need to insert the court case number.
- The Citation number: The citation number also requires that the individual inserts the citation number to search.
- The Attorney: This search option allows the requester to choose between searching using the Attorney’s name or the Attorney Bar Number. The individual will need to insert the party’s name, date of filing, case category, court locations, and case status.
Courts in Anoka County
Below is a name, address, and contact information of the Anoka County Courthouse:
Anoka County Courthouse
2100 3rd Ave.
Anoka, MN 55303-2489
Phone: (763) 760-6700
Fax: (763) 712-3247
