Courts face pressure, need support

The state of the judiciary in Minnesota is strong, but should not be taken for granted, said Chief Justice Natalie Hudson addressing the Minnesota State Bar Association at its annual convention on June 25.

Hudson lauded the lawyers who were reaffirming their public service and said that the relationship between the bench and the bar in Minnesota is unique. She also said that attorneys are ambassadors to the court and should stand up for the rule of law.

Hudson said the judiciary is prepared to meet the pressure that it faces and said that the Minnesota judicial system is the most trusted and effective in the nation.

“Minnesota courts are leading the nation,” she said.

Effective, timely, and accessible

The judiciary has introduced a new district court framework, the oneCourtMN Hearings Initiative (OHI).

“The oneCourtMN Hearings Initiative vision is to build public trust and accountability in the Minnesota Judicial Branch, Minnesota district courts will have court hearings that are effective, timely, and accessible,” the court’s web site states.

“This is one of the most significant operational reforms in a generation,” Hudson said. Some hearings may be remote, depending on the judiciary’s policy.

Another change is e-check-in, which allows litigants to check in and complete paperwork ahead of time for certain adult criminal and traffic cases, as well as juvenile petty, traffic, delinquency, and protection cases in Minnesota District (Trial) Court. They may also use eCheck-in to request or apply for additional services associated with their case. eCheck-in is available in most Minnesota counties.

Another change is expanding access to justice by allowing paraprofessionals supervised by licensed attorneys to appear in court in certain cases.

The Minnesota Board of Law Examiners is studying how to measure attorney competence and interested in public comment, Hudson said. Its work has gone on for years. Details about the Board are on its website.

Other judicial branch initiatives include mental health courts, attention to child protection and maltreatment.

The court will continue to move forward, Hudson said.

“We are not standing still. Planning is not enough. We need partnership,” she told lawyers. “Let’s defend what we have built. We need you and the courts need you to advocate.”

Moving forward requires facing headwinds and pressure, Hudson said.

“The threats are real and rising. If we do not stand now, we will regret it.”