MINNESOTA COURT RULES

GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE

Rule 504.Judge(s); Administrator; Reporting

(a)Judges.

The judge(s) and, where authorized by statute, full and part time judicial officers and referees of the district court shall serve as judge(s) of conciliation court for such periods and at such times as the judge(s) shall determine. A judge, judicial officer, or referee so serving shall be known as a conciliation judge.

(b)Administrator.

(1) The court administrator shall manage the conciliation court, and may delegate a deputy or deputies to assist in performing the administrator's duties. The court administrator shall keep records and accounts and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the judge(s). The court administrator shall account for, and transmit to the appropriate official, all fees received as required by statute or rule.

(2) Under supervision of the conciliation court judges, the court administrator shall explain to litigants the procedures and functions of the conciliation court and shall on request assist litigants in filling out the forms provided under Rules 507(b) and 518(b) of these rules and on request shall, to the extent technically feasible, forward properly completed statement of claim and counterclaim forms to the administrator of the appropriate conciliation court together with the applicable fees, if any. The court administrator shall also advise litigants of the availability of subpoenas to obtain witnesses and documents. The performance of these duties shall not constitute the practice of law.

(3) Unless personal service is required under these rules, the court administrator may transmit notices by mail or by any means authorized by Rule 14 of the General Rules of Practice for the District Courts.

(c)Reporting.

Conciliation court trials and proceedings shall not be reported.

(Amended effective July 1, 2015.)

1993 Committee Comment

Rule 504(b)(2) requires court administrators to advise litigants of the availability of subpoenas under Rule 512(a). The required advice may be provided orally or in writing (e.g. on the litigant's copy of a court form, an accompanying instruction sheet, or in a brochure).