This information is not intended as legal advice but as a guide to the legal process. If you do not understand any of these procedures, we suggest you consult an attorney. xyz

The office of court Administrator, formerly known as Clerk of Court, serves the combined courts at the trial level. The office was created by the Constitution of the State of Minnesota as an elective office and protected as such until the voters of Minnesota changed it to an appointive office. The Clerk of District Court, now known as Court Administrator, then became appointed by the Judges of each respective Judicial District. As of July 2000, the Court Administrators Office was taken over by the State of Minnesota and they are now state employees.

The Court Administrator appoints staff members and assigns and directs the work of the staff. The administrative work of this office touches the following areas of court jurisdiction: civil and criminal actions, traffic violations bureau, probate court, conciliation court, juvenile and family court matters.

Specific duties of the office include receipt and filing of court documents, the processing, custody, and control of the filed items through disposition of the case. Following disposition, the office is responsible for the pertinent final action, i.e., entry of judgments, issuing executions for the collection of money, and then safe storage with ready retrievability of all written records of the action of the Court. The Administrator is the financial officer of the Courts, collecting fines and fees, disbursing those collections to proper government units and the reporting of such activity. The preparation of an annual budget for the operation of the office and presentation and implementation of the budget fall within financial duties.

Court Procedure duties include drawing jurors, notifying jurors, swearing jurors, witnesses, bailiffs, keeping minutes of court procedures and receiving and recording verdicts. Calendaring cases for trial is a major responsibility of the office to guarantee the movement of cases on a timely basis.

The Administrator, if requested, may perform marriages.