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CHAPTER 480. SUPREME COURT

Table of Sections
SectionHeadnote

GENERAL PROVISIONS

480.01JUSTICES; TERMS; TRAVEL EXPENSES.
480.011OFFICE OF ASSOCIATE JUSTICE; CONTINUANCE IN OFFICE.
480.013TERMINOLOGY OF REFERENCES TO CHIEF JUDGE AND ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
480.02SPECIAL TERMS.
480.03PENDING CASES CONTINUED.
480.04WRITS; PROCESS.

ADOPTION OF COURT RULES

480.05POWER; RULES.
480.051REGULATE PLEADING, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE.
480.0515PAPERS TO BE SUBMITTED ON RECYCLED PAPER.
480.052ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
480.053Repealed, 1981 c 356 s 377
480.054DISTRIBUTION OF PROPOSED RULES; HEARING.
480.055RULES NOT IN CONFLICT.
480.056PRESENT LAWS EFFECTIVE UNTIL MODIFIED.
480.057PROMULGATION.
480.058RIGHT RESERVED.
480.059CRIMINAL ACTIONS, PLEADINGS, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE.
480.0591RULES OF EVIDENCE.
480.0595JUVENILE COURT RULES.

COURT DECISIONS

480.06DECISIONS.
480.061Repealed, 1998 c 255 s 2

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CLAIMS

480.062PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CLAIMS REGARDING EMPLOYMENT, COSTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.
480.065UNIFORM CERTIFICATION OF QUESTIONS OF LAW.

JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES AND LAW LIBRARY

480.07CLERK; ASSISTANTS, RECORDS.
480.08MARSHAL.
480.09STATE LIBRARY.
480.10JANITOR.
480.11REPORTER.

REPORTS OF DECISIONS

480.12REPORTS OF DECISIONS; PRINTING, SALE, AND DISTRIBUTION.

STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR

480.13COURT ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE CREATED; APPOINTMENT, TERM.
480.14APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES; COURT ADMINISTRATOR, EMPLOYEES NOT TO PRACTICE LAW.
480.15POWERS AND DUTIES.
480.16DISTRIBUTION OF WORK OF COURTS; DUTY OF JUDGES TO COMPLY WITH CHIEF JUSTICE'S DIRECTION.
480.17JUDGES, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, OTHER OFFICERS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUESTS OF COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS.

QUALIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS

480.175QUALIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS.

CONFERENCE OF JUDGES

480.18CONFERENCE OF JUDGES; JUDGE'S EXPENSES.

TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES

480.181TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES TO JUDICIAL BRANCH.
480.1811POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT COSTS.

STATE ASSUMPTION OF COURT COSTS

480.182STATE ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN COURT COSTS.
480.183JUDICIAL DISTRICTS; SCHEDULED DATES OF STATE TRANSFER; DEFINITION OF SERVICES.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

480.19APPLICATION TO SUPREME AND OTHER COURTS.
480.20APPLICATION TO SUBSTITUTION OF PROBATE JUDGES.
480.21RESIGNED JUDGES, APPOINTMENT AS COMMISSIONERS.
480.22LOCATION OF CHAMBERS.
480.23COMPUTER ACQUISITION BY COURTS.
480.235TRIAL COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
480.236SOFTWARE SALES.

LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS

480.24DEFINITIONS.
480.241Repealed, 1990 c 594 art 1 s 81
480.242DISTRIBUTION OF CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUNDS TO QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS.
480.243CLIENT ELIGIBILITY; RECEIPT OF OTHER FUNDS.
480.244REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE RECORDS; POSTAWARD AUDITS.
480.245Repealed, 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270
480.250Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117
480.252Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117
480.254Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117
480.256Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117

DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HARASSMENT

480.30JUDICIAL TRAINING.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

480.01 JUSTICES; TERMS; TRAVEL EXPENSES.
    Subdivision 1. Justices; terms. The Supreme Court shall consist of one chief justice and
six associate justices, who shall hold one term of court each year, at the seat of government,
commencing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, with such continuations or
adjournments thereof during the year as may be necessary for the dispatch of the business coming
before the court. When the chief justice of the court shall be absent from the state, or shall be,
for any reason, incapacitated from acting as such, the associate justice present within the state
and not incapacitated who shall have served the longest time, or when there are two or more
associate justices of equal terms of service, then the associate justice, whom the chief justice shall
designate as senior associate justice as such, shall have and exercise all the powers, duties, and
functions of the chief justice during the absence or incapacity and shall be, during such absence or
incapacity, the presiding justice of the court.
    Subd. 2. Travel expenses. Travel expenses shall be paid by the state in the same manner and
amount as provided for judges of the district court in section 484.54.
History: (129) RL s 69; 1919 c 96 s 1; 1973 c 726 s 1; 1982 c 501 s 16; 1986 c 444; 1989 c
335 art 1 s 252
480.011 OFFICE OF ASSOCIATE JUSTICE; CONTINUANCE IN OFFICE.
The reduction of two offices of associate justice abolished by section 480.01 shall become
effective upon the first two vacancies occurring in that office on the Supreme Court. Each justice
of the Supreme Court serving on August 1, 1983 may continue to serve until the justice is not
elected or does not seek reelection. If a justice who was serving on August 1, 1983, is defeated
for reelection by another person, that other person shall be deemed to have been in office as of
August 1, 1983, for the purposes of this section.
History: 1982 c 501 s 23; 1986 c 444
480.013 TERMINOLOGY OF REFERENCES TO CHIEF JUDGE AND ASSOCIATE
JUDGES.
In construing and interpreting constitutional provisions, statutes, legal instruments, records,
decisions, or legal process applicable or pertaining to, or emanating from the Supreme Court of
the state of Minnesota, the terms chief justice and associate justice or associate justices shall
be construed as synonymous with, and as equivalent in meaning to, the terms chief judge and
associate judge or associate judges as those terms are used in Article VI of the Constitution
of the State of Minnesota.
History: 1957 c 41 s 1
480.02 SPECIAL TERMS.
Special terms may be held whenever the court shall so direct, but three weeks' published
notice of the order appointing the same shall be given at the seat of government. Any term may
be continued from time to time by orders announced in court and entered in the minutes. Any
three justices may hold the court and exercise its powers. Unless three shall attend at the time
for opening court, those present, or, if all be absent, the clerk, shall adjourn the court until the
following day; but, if three justices be absent for six consecutive days, the court shall stand
adjourned without day.
History: (130) RL s 70
480.03 PENDING CASES CONTINUED.
Whenever a term is adjourned, or there is a failure for any reason to hold a term at the
appointed time, all causes then on the calendar, and all writs, recognizances, appeals, and
proceedings taken or made returnable to the court at such term shall stand over to, and be heard at,
the general or special term next ensuing, as if no such adjournment or failure had occurred.
History: (131) RL s 71
480.04 WRITS; PROCESS.
The court shall have power to issue to all courts of inferior jurisdiction and to all corporations
and individuals, writs of error, certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and all other
writs and processes, whether especially provided for by statute or not, that are necessary to the
execution of the laws and the furtherance of justice. It shall be always open for the issuance and
return of such writs and processes and for the hearing and determination of all matters involved
therein and for the entry in its minutes of such orders as may from time to time be necessary
to carry out the power and authority conferred upon it by law, subject to such rules as it may
prescribe. Any justice of the court, either in vacation or in term, may order the writ or process to
issue and prescribe as to its service and return.
History: (132) RL s 72; 1917 c 408 s 1; 1985 c 248 s 70

ADOPTION OF COURT RULES

480.05 POWER; RULES.
The Supreme Court shall have all the authority necessary for carrying into execution its
judgments and determinations, and for the exercise of its jurisdiction as the supreme judicial
tribunal of the state, agreeable to the usages and principles of law. Such court shall prescribe, and
from time to time may amend and modify, rules of practice therein and also rules governing the
examination and admission to practice of attorneys at law and rules governing their conduct in the
practice of their profession, and rules concerning the presentation, hearing, and determination of
accusations against attorneys at law not inconsistent with law, and may provide for the publication
thereof at the cost of the state.
History: (133) RL s 73; 1921 c 297 s 1
480.051 REGULATE PLEADING, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE.
The Supreme Court of this state shall have the power to regulate the pleadings, practice,
procedure, and the forms thereof in civil actions in all courts of this state, including the probate
courts, by rules promulgated by it from time to time. Such rules shall not abridge, enlarge, or
modify the substantive rights of any litigant.
History: 1947 c 498 s 1; 1987 c 377 s 5
480.0515 PAPERS TO BE SUBMITTED ON RECYCLED PAPER.
    Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.
(b) "Attorney" means an attorney at law admitted to practice law in this state.
(c) "Document" means a document that is required or permitted to be filed with a court
concerning an action that is to be commenced or is pending before the court.
    Subd. 2. Requirement. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a document submitted by
an attorney to a court of this state, and all papers appended to the document, must be submitted
on paper containing not less than ten percent postconsumer material, as defined in section
115A.03, subdivision 24b.
(b) A court may not refuse a document solely because the document was not submitted on
recycled paper.
    Subd. 3. Exceptions. (a) Subdivision 1 does not apply to:
(1) a photograph;
(2) an original document that was prepared or printed before January 1, 1996;
(3) a document that was not created at the direction or under the control of the submitting
attorney;
(4) a facsimile copy otherwise permitted to be filed with the court in lieu of the original
document, provided that if the original is also required to be filed, it must be submitted in
compliance with this section; or
(5) nonrecycled paper and preprinted forms acquired or printed before January 1, 1996.
(b) This section does not apply if recycled paper is not readily available.
History: 1995 c 247 art 1 s 58
480.052 ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Before any rules are adopted the Supreme Court shall appoint an advisory committee
consisting of eight members of the bar of the state, one judge of the Court of Appeals, and two
judges of the district court to assist the court in considering and preparing such rules as it may
adopt.
History: 1947 c 498 s 2; 1984 c 379 s 1; 1998 c 254 art 2 s 50
480.053 [Repealed, 1981 c 356 s 377]
480.054 DISTRIBUTION OF PROPOSED RULES; HEARING.
Before any rule for the Court of Appeals or for the district court is adopted, the Supreme
Court shall distribute copies of the proposed rule to the bench and bar of the state for their
consideration and suggestions and give due consideration to any suggestions they submit to the
court. The Court of Appeals judges or district court judges association may file with the court a
petition specifying their suggestions concerning any existing or proposed rule and requesting a
hearing on it. The court shall grant a hearing within six months after the filing of the petition. The
court may grant a hearing upon the petition of any other person.
History: 1947 c 498 s 4; 1980 c 387 s 1; 1983 c 247 s 162; 1998 c 254 art 2 s 51; 1999
c 86 art 1 s 72
480.055 RULES NOT IN CONFLICT.
    Subdivision 1. Other courts. Any court, other than the Supreme Court, may adopt rules of
court governing its practice; the judges of the Court of Appeals, pursuant to section 480A.11,
and the judges of district courts, pursuant to sections 484.33 and 484.52, may adopt rules not in
conflict with the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court.
    Subd. 2. Bureaus. Sections 480.051 to 480.058 shall not affect the power of any other
statutory body to make rules governing its practice.
History: 1947 c 498 s 5; 1961 c 560 s 38; 1979 c 41 s 1; 1983 c 247 s 163; 1998 c 254
art 2 s 52
480.056 PRESENT LAWS EFFECTIVE UNTIL MODIFIED.
All present laws relating to pleading, practice, and procedure, excepting those applying to
the probate courts, shall be effective as rules of court until modified or superseded by subsequent
court rule, and upon the adoption of any rule pursuant to sections 480.051 to 480.058 such laws,
in so far as they are in conflict therewith, shall thereafter be of no further force and effect.
History: 1947 c 498 s 6
480.057 PROMULGATION.
    Subdivision 1. Effective date of rules; publication. All rules promulgated under sections
480.051 to 480.058 are effective at a time fixed by the court. The rules must be published as part
of Minnesota Statutes according to section 3C.08.
    Subd. 2. Printing, publishing, and distributing. The revisor of statutes shall print, publish,
and distribute copies of the rules according to section 3C.12.
History: 1947 c 498 s 7; 1984 c 480 s 18; 1984 c 655 art 2 s 19 subd 6
480.058 RIGHT RESERVED.
    Subdivision 1. By legislature. Sections 480.051 to 480.058 shall not abridge the right of the
legislature to enact, modify, or repeal any statute or modify or repeal any rule of the Supreme
Court adopted pursuant thereto.
    Subd. 2. Appellate fees and forfeits. Appellate court fees collected under Minnesota Rules
of Civil Appellate Procedure Numbers 103, 115, 120, 121, or other law or rule and bond amounts
or security deposits forfeit under Minnesota Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure Numbers 107
and 108 must be transmitted to the commissioner of finance for deposit in the state treasury and
credit to the general fund.
History: 1947 c 498 s 8; 1989 c 335 art 3 s 13; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50
480.059 CRIMINAL ACTIONS, PLEADINGS, PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE.
    Subdivision 1. Rules. The Supreme Court shall have the power to regulate the pleadings,
practice, procedure, and the forms thereof in criminal actions in all courts of this state, by
rules promulgated by it from time to time. Such rules shall not abridge, enlarge, or modify the
substantive rights of any person.
    Subd. 2. Advisory committee. Before any such rules are adopted the Supreme Court shall
appoint an advisory committee consisting of eight lawyers licensed to practice law in the state,
one judge of the Court of Appeals, and two judges of the district court to assist the court in
considering and preparing such rules.
    Subd. 3.[Repealed, 1984 c 655 art 1 s 66]
    Subd. 4. Distribution of proposed rules; hearing. Before any such rule is adopted, the
Supreme Court shall distribute copies of the proposed rule to the judiciary and attorneys of the
state for their consideration and suggestions and give due consideration to such suggestions as
they may submit to the court. The Minnesota State Bar Association, or a professional judicial
organization may file with the court a petition specifying their suggestions concerning any
existing or proposed rule and requesting a hearing thereon. The court shall thereupon grant a
hearing thereon within six months after the filing of the petition.
    Subd. 5. Rules not in conflict. Any court, other than the Supreme Court, may adopt rules
of court governing its practice; but such rules shall not conflict with the rules promulgated by
the Supreme Court.
    Subd. 6. Promulgation. (1) Effective date of rules; publication. All rules promulgated
under this section shall be effective at a time fixed by the court and shall be published in the
appendix to the official reports of the Supreme Court and shall be bound therewith. The court
shall publish and distribute to the judiciary and attorneys of the state, on or before September
1, 1974, copies of the final version of the rules it intends to adopt. A period of at least 120 days
shall be allowed from the date of publication of this final version for the rules to be studied by the
judiciary and attorneys of the state prior to the adoption of any of the rules.
(2) Printing, publishing and distributing. The commissioner of administration shall print,
publish and distribute copies thereof to the judiciary and attorneys and as required by law.
    Subd. 7. Effect upon statutes. Present statutes relating to the pleadings, practice, procedure,
and the forms thereof in criminal actions shall be effective until modified or superseded by court
rule. If a rule is promulgated pursuant to this section which is in conflict with a statute, the statute
shall thereafter be of no force and effect. Notwithstanding any rule, however, the following
statutes remain in full force and effect:
(a) statutes which relate to substantive criminal law, found in chapters 609, 617, and 624,
except for sections 609.115, and 609.145;
(b) statutes which relate to the rights of the accused, found in sections 611.01 to 611.033,
611.11, and 611.30 to 611.34 and Laws 1973, chapter 317;
(c) statutes which relate to the prevention of crime, found in chapter 625;
(d) statutes which relate to training, investigation, apprehension, and reports, found in
chapter 626;
(e) statutes which relate to privacy of communications, found in chapter 626A;
(f) statutes which relate to extradition, detainers, and arrest, found in sections 629.01
to 629.404;
(g) statutes which relate to judgment and sentence, found in sections 631.20 to 631.21
and 631.40 to 631.51;
(h) statutes which relate to special rules, evidence, privileges, and witnesses, found in
sections 595.02 to 595.025 and chapter 634;
(i) the Supreme Court shall not have the power to adopt or promulgate any rule requiring less
than unanimous verdicts in criminal cases; and
(j) statutes which relate to the writ of habeas corpus, including but not limited to, sections
589.01 to 589.30 and 484.03.
Whenever, pursuant to this section, the court adopts a rule which conflicts, modifies, or
supersedes a statute not enumerated above it shall indicate the statute in the order adopting the rule.
    Subd. 8. Right reserved. This section shall not abridge the right of the legislature to enact,
modify, or repeal any statute or modify or repeal any rule of the Supreme Court adopted pursuant
thereto.
History: 1971 c 250 s 1-8; 1974 c 390 s 1,3; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 1 s 178; 1984 c 379 s 2;
1993 c 13 art 2 s 17; 1998 c 254 art 2 s 53
480.0591 RULES OF EVIDENCE.
    Subdivision 1. Authority to promulgate. The Supreme Court may promulgate rules of
evidence regulating all evidentiary matters in civil and criminal actions in all courts of the state.
Such rules shall not abridge, enlarge or modify the substantive rights of any person.
    Subd. 2. Advisory committee. Before any such rules are adopted the Supreme Court shall
appoint an advisory committee consisting of eight lawyers licensed to practice law in the state and
at least two judges of the district court to assist the court in considering and preparing such rules.
    Subd. 3.[Repealed, 1993 c 13 art 1 s 44]
    Subd. 4. Distribution of proposed rules; hearing. Before any such rule is adopted, the
Supreme Court shall distribute copies of the proposed rule to the judiciary and attorneys of the
state for their consideration and suggestions and give due consideration to such suggestions as
they may submit to the court. The Minnesota State Bar Association, or a professional judicial
organization may file with the court a petition specifying their suggestions concerning any
existing or proposed rule and requesting a hearing thereon. The court shall thereupon grant a
hearing thereon within six months after the filing of the petition.
    Subd. 5. Promulgation. (1) Effective date of rules; publication. All rules promulgated
under this section shall be effective at a time fixed by the court and shall be published in the
appendix to the official reports of the Supreme Court and shall be bound therewith.
(2) Printing, publishing and distributing. The commissioner of administration shall
print, publish and distribute copies thereof to the judiciary and attorneys as required by law.
The commissioner shall make 500 copies available, without cost, to the superintendent of the
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for distribution by the superintendent to local law enforcement
agencies of the state.
    Subd. 6. Present laws effective until modified; rights reserved. Present statutes relating
to evidence shall be effective until modified or superseded by court rule. If a rule of evidence
is promulgated which is in conflict with a statute, the statute shall thereafter be of no force and
effect. The Supreme Court, however, shall not have the power to promulgate rules of evidence
which conflict, modify, or supersede the following statutes:
(a) statutes which relate to the competency of witnesses to testify, found in sections 595.02
to 595.025;
(b) statutes which establish the prima facie evidence as proof of a fact;
(c) statutes which establish a presumption or a burden of proof;
(d) statutes which relate to the admissibility of statistical probability evidence based on
genetic or blood test results, found in sections 634.25 to 634.30;
(e) statutes which relate to the privacy of communications; and
(f) statutes which relate to the admissibility of certain documents.
The legislature may enact, modify, or repeal any statute or modify or repeal any rule of
evidence promulgated under this section.
History: 1974 c 481 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 326 art 7 s 12; 1998 c 254 art 2 s 54
480.0595 JUVENILE COURT RULES.
The Supreme Court shall promulgate rules to regulate the pleadings, practice, procedure and
the forms thereof in juvenile proceedings in all juvenile courts of the state in accordance with the
provisions of section 480.059, except with respect to the composition of the advisory committee
and the distribution of the proposed rules. Before adoption of the rules, the Supreme Court shall
distribute copies of the proposed rules to such persons who register with the Supreme Court
their desire to receive notice of hearings on the proposed rules. The rules shall be available for
distribution to the judiciary and attorneys of the state on or before September 1, 1982.
History: 1980 c 580 s 20; 1981 c 201 s 2; 1981 c 356 s 357

COURT DECISIONS

480.06 DECISIONS.
In all cases decided by the court, it shall give its decision in writing, and file the same with
the clerk, together with headnotes, briefly stating the points decided. A copy of such headnotes
shall be furnished by the clerk, without charge, to such proprietors of daily newspapers as may
desire them for free publication. Decisions may be rendered and judgments entered thereon in
vacation as well as in term.
History: (134) RL s 74
480.061 [Repealed, 1998 c 255 s 2]

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CLAIMS

480.062 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CLAIMS REGARDING EMPLOYMENT, COSTS AND
DISBURSEMENTS.
The appellate courts shall allow costs and disbursements in any appeal to any public
employee who prevails in an action for wrongfully denied or withheld employment benefits or
rights in the same manner as the court allows costs and disbursements to any prevailing party.
History: 1974 c 414 s 1; 1983 c 247 s 165
480.065 UNIFORM CERTIFICATION OF QUESTIONS OF LAW.
    Subdivision 1. Definitions. In this section:
(1) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(2) "Tribe" means a tribe, band, or village of Native Americans which is recognized by
federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.
    Subd. 2. Power to certify. The Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals of this state, on
the motion of a party to pending litigation or its own motion, may certify a question of law
to the highest court of another state, of a tribe, of Canada or a Canadian province or territory,
or of Mexico or a Mexican state if:
(1) the pending litigation involves a question to be decided under the law of the other
jurisdiction;
(2) the answer to the question may be determinative of an issue in the pending litigation; and
(3) the question is one for which an answer is not provided by a controlling appellate
decision, constitutional provision, or statute of the other jurisdiction.
    Subd. 3. Power to answer. The Supreme Court of this state may answer a question of law
certified to it by a court of the United States or by an appellate court of another state, of a tribe, of
Canada or a Canadian province or territory, or of Mexico or a Mexican state, if the answer may be
determinative of an issue in pending litigation in the certifying court and there is no controlling
appellate decision, constitutional provision, or statute of this state.
    Subd. 4. Power to reformulate question. The Supreme Court of this state may reformulate
a question of law certified to it.
    Subd. 5. Certification order; record. The court certifying a question of law to the Supreme
Court of this state shall issue a certification order and forward it to the Supreme Court of this
state. Before responding to a certified question, the Supreme Court of this state may require the
certifying court to deliver all or part of its record to the Supreme Court of this state.
    Subd. 6. Contents of certification order. (a) A certification order must contain:
(1) the question of law to be answered;
(2) the facts relevant to the question, showing fully the nature of the controversy out of
which the question arose;
(3) a statement acknowledging that the Supreme Court of this state, acting as the receiving
court, may reformulate the question; and
(4) the names and addresses of counsel of record and parties appearing without counsel.
(b) If the parties cannot agree upon a statement of facts, the certifying court shall determine
the relevant facts and state them as a part of its certification order.
    Subd. 7. Notice; response. The Supreme Court of this state, acting as a receiving court, shall
notify the certifying court of acceptance or rejection of the question and, in accordance with
notions of comity and fairness, respond to an accepted certified question as soon as practicable.
    Subd. 8. Procedures. After the Supreme Court of this state has accepted a certified question,
proceedings are governed by the rules and statutes of this state. Procedures for certification from
this state to a receiving court are those provided in the rules and statutes of the receiving forum.
    Subd. 9. Opinion. The Supreme Court of this state shall state in a written opinion the law
answering the certified question and send a copy of the opinion to the certifying court, counsel of
record, and parties appearing without counsel.
    Subd. 10. Cost of certification. Fees and costs are the same as in civil appeals docketed
before the Supreme Court of this state and must be equally divided between the parties unless
otherwise ordered by the certifying court.
    Subd. 11. Short title. This section may be cited as the "Uniform Certification of Questions
of Law Act (1997)."
History: 1998 c 255 s 1

JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES AND LAW LIBRARY

480.07 CLERK; ASSISTANTS, RECORDS.
The clerk of the appellate courts may employ necessary clerical office help for whose
compensation legislative appropriation has been made. The clerk may appoint a deputy clerk for
the discharge of the duties of the office in the clerk's absence or inability to act, and such other
duties as shall be assigned to the deputy clerk by the clerk or the court. The deputy shall serve
during the pleasure of the clerk.
The clerk shall keep records and perform duties appropriate to the clerk's office as the judges
of the appellate courts prescribe. The clerk shall provide, at the cost of the state, all books,
stationery, furniture, postage, and supplies necessary for the proper transaction of the business of
the courts.
History: (138, 139) RL s 75,76; 1921 c 46 s 1; 1983 c 247 s 166; 1986 c 444
480.08 MARSHAL.
A marshal of the Supreme Court may be appointed by the justices thereof to act during
their pleasure. The marshal's qualifications, duties, and powers shall be such as the court may
prescribe conformably to the laws.
History: (140) RL s 77; 1986 c 444
480.09 STATE LIBRARY.
    Subdivision 1. Supervisory control; Supreme Court. The State Library shall be maintained
under the supervision of the justices of the Supreme Court. Notwithstanding chapter 16C or any
other act inconsistent herewith or acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, they shall
direct the purchases of books, pamphlets, and documents therefor and the sales and exchanges
therefrom upon such terms and conditions as they may deem just and proper. They may authorize
the transfer of books and documents to the University of Minnesota or any department thereof, or
to any state agency. They shall adopt rules for the government of the library and the management
of its affairs, and prescribe penalties for the violation thereof.
    Subd. 2. State law librarian. The justices of the Supreme Court shall appoint a state law
librarian to serve at their pleasure. Subject to the approval of the justices, the librarian may appoint
an assistant librarian who shall perform the librarian's duties when the librarian is absent or
disabled, and, subject to the approval of the justices, the librarian may employ necessary assistants.
    Subd. 3. Librarian duties. The librarian shall:
(1) have charge of the library rooms and property,
(2) under the direction of the justices attend to all purchases, exchanges, transfers, and sales,
(3) enforce the rules prescribed for the government of the library and the management of
its affairs,
(4) collect all damages from injury to or retention of library property and all fines imposed
for violation of the rules,
(5) effect exchanges of any books, documents, journals, maps, pamphlets, and reports
delivered to the State Library by any department, agency, or official of the state in accordance
with the provisions of section 15.18,
(6) keep a detailed chronological record of all purchases, exchanges, transfers, and sales and
of all additions to the library by gift, purchase, or exchange, respectively,
(7) keep an account of all amounts collected as damages or fines or from other sources, and
of all expenditures.
    Subd. 4. Open records. The records and accounts of the library shall be open to public
inspection and shall be transferred to the successor of the librarian.
    Subd. 5. Moneys collected; state treasury. All moneys collected shall be paid into the state
treasury and are credited to the general fund.
    Subd. 6. Official publications. All official publications of the United States and of other
states and countries, which are received for the use of this state by any officer thereof, shall be
sent to the State Library forthwith.
History: (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) RL s 78-82; 1947 c 365 s 4; 1951 c 3 s 1; 1955 c 89 s 1;
1965 c 45 s 67; 1982 c 576 s 18; 1983 c 301 s 214; 1984 c 544 s 89; 1986 c 444; 1989 c 335 art 4
s 97; 1991 c 326 s 24; 1998 c 386 art 2 s 96; 1999 c 86 art 1 s 73
480.10 JANITOR.
The justices may appoint, and at pleasure remove, a janitor, who shall have care of the
courtroom, the rooms of the clerk and justices of the court, and of the State Library, and perform
such other duties as the justices may require.
History: (146) RL s 83
480.11 REPORTER.
    Subdivision 1. Files. The reporter of its decisions, appointed by the Supreme Court, shall be
entitled to the possession, for a reasonable time, of the files of the court in all cases decided.
    Subd. 2. Cases; citations. The reporter shall accurately report all such cases, noting
concisely the points decided, with a statement of the facts as shown by the record, unless the
same are fully stated in the opinion; the names of counsel, with the points made and authorities
cited, as fully as the reporter deems necessary; and the opinions rendered by the justices. All
references in such opinions to former decisions of the court which have been published in the
Northwestern Reporter shall also cite the volume and page of such reporter where the same
appear; and, if the opinion reported has been published in said reporter, the volume and page
of such publication shall be cited.
    Subd. 3. Publication; copyright. Within 90 days after the filing of a sufficient number of
decisions to make an appropriate printed volume, the reporter shall deliver the manuscript of the
report of such cases to the contractor for the publication thereof. As soon as the same is put in type,
the reporter shall read and correct the printer's proof, and furnish to the contractor an index, a table
of cases, and other matter necessary to complete the volume. The reporter shall have no pecuniary
interest in such reports, which shall be copyrighted by the secretary of state in trust for the people.
History: (147, 148, 149) RL s 84-86; 1965 c 722 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 326 s 25

REPORTS OF DECISIONS

480.12 REPORTS OF DECISIONS; PRINTING, SALE, AND DISTRIBUTION.
The report of such decisions shall be published in form, style, quality, and in such numbers
as the court shall direct.
Except as otherwise herein provided the published reports shall be sold by the commissioner
of administration at a price not to exceed the maximum price set by the court. The commissioner
of administration shall distribute without cost published reports to the institutions and public
offices as the court may direct.
The commissioner shall determine the reasonable expense incurred in handling, and
distributing the published reports which the commissioner sells or distributes without cost.
The unexpended balances of any appropriation to the Supreme Court for publishing reports of
decisions shall be used to reimburse the commissioner for the reasonable expenses, and the amount
of such reimbursement shall be credited to the central services revolving fund in the state treasury.
If the unexpended balances of such an appropriation is insufficient therefor, the commissioner
shall deduct the remainder of these expenses from receipts from the sale of published reports and
deposit the deductions to the credit of central services revolving fund. The commissioner shall
deposit the balance of the receipts to the credit of the general fund in the state treasury.
History: (150) RL s 87; 1927 c 379 s 1; 1937 c 81 s 1; 1965 c 722 s 2; Ex1967 c 1 s 6; 1969
c 399 s 49; 1971 c 81 s 2; 1978 c 589 s 1; 1986 c 444

STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR

480.13 COURT ADMINISTRATOR OFFICE CREATED; APPOINTMENT, TERM.
There is hereby created a state office to be known as the Office of Court Administrator,
the holder of which office shall be appointed by the Supreme Court, and shall hold office at
the pleasure of the Supreme Court.
History: 1963 c 758 s 1; 1971 c 81 s 1; 1978 c 793 s 76
480.14 APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES; COURT
ADMINISTRATOR, EMPLOYEES NOT TO PRACTICE LAW.
The court administrator, with the approval of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of
this state, shall appoint and fix the compensation of such employees as are necessary to enable
the administrator to perform the power and duties vested in the administrator. During the
administrator's term of office or employment, neither the court administrator nor any employee
shall engage directly or indirectly in the practice of law in this state.
History: 1963 c 758 s 2; 1971 c 81 s 2; 1986 c 444
480.15 POWERS AND DUTIES.
    Subdivision 1. Powers and duties. The court administrator shall, under the supervision and
direction of the chief justice, have the powers and duties prescribed by this section.
    Subd. 2. Examination of methods and systems. The court administrator shall examine the
administrative methods and systems employed in the offices of the judges, court administrators,
reporters, and employees of the courts and make recommendations, through the chief justice
for the improvement of the same.
    Subd. 3. Examination of dockets. The court administrator shall examine the state of dockets
of the courts and determine the need for assistance by any court.
    Subd. 4. Judge assignment recommendations. The court administrator shall make
recommendations to the chief justice relating to the assignment of judges where courts are in need
of assistance and carry out the direction of the chief justice as to the assignments of judges to
counties and districts where the courts are in need of assistance.
    Subd. 5. Collection of statistical data. The court administrator shall collect and compile
statistical and other data and make reports of the business transacted by the courts and transmit
the same to the chief justice and to the respective houses of the legislature to the end that proper
action may be taken in respect thereto.
    Subd. 6. Appropriation; budget estimates. The court administrator shall prepare and
submit budget estimates of state appropriations necessary for the maintenance and operation of
the judicial system and make recommendations in respect thereto.
    Subd. 7. Expenditure of public money. The court administrator shall collect statistical and
other data and make reports relating to the expenditure of public money, state and local, for the
maintenance and operation of the judicial system and the offices connected therewith.
    Subd. 8. Delay of action reports. The court administrator shall obtain reports from court
administrators in accordance with law or rules adopted by the Supreme Court of this state on cases
and other judicial business in which action has been delayed beyond periods of time specified
by law or rules of court and make report thereof to the Supreme Court of this state and to the
respective houses of the legislature.
    Subd. 9. Judicial system improvement recommendations. The court administrator shall
formulate and submit to the respective houses of the legislature recommendations of policies
for the improvement of the judicial system.
    Subd. 10. Annual report. The court administrator shall submit annually, as of February 1, to
the chief justice and the judicial council, a report of the activities of the Court Administrator's
Office for the preceding calendar year.
    Subd. 10a. Uniform personnel standards. The court administrator shall prepare uniform
standards and procedures for the recruitment, evaluation, promotion, in-service training and
discipline of all personnel in the court system other than judges, referees, judicial officers, court
reporters and court services officers. The court administrator shall file a report on the uniform
standards and procedures with the legislature by June 30, 1978.
    Subd. 10b. Uniform requirements; budget and information systems. The court
administrator shall promulgate and administer uniform requirements for court budget and
information systems, the compilation of statistical information, and the collection, storage and
use of court records.
    Subd. 11. Duties delegated by Supreme Court. The court administrator shall attend to such
other matters consistent with the powers delegated herein as may be assigned by the Supreme
Court of this state.
    Subd. 12. Review of plans. The court administrator shall review plans submitted by a
judicial district for office equipment under section 484.68, subdivision 3, clause (e), and shall
determine eligibility for state funding or reimbursement for the equipment.
History: 1963 c 758 s 3; 1971 c 81 s 2; 1977 c 432 s 6; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82; 1987
c 404 s 178; 1993 c 13 art 1 s 45
480.16 DISTRIBUTION OF WORK OF COURTS; DUTY OF JUDGES TO COMPLY
WITH CHIEF JUSTICE'S DIRECTION.
The chief justice shall consider all recommendations of the court administrator for the
assignment of judges, and has discretionary authority to direct any judge whose calendar, in the
judgment of the chief justice, will permit, to hold court in any county or district where need
therefor exists, to the end that the courts of this state shall function with maximum efficiency,
and that the work of other courts shall be equitably distributed. The Supreme Court may provide
by rule for the enforcement of this section and section 480.17.
History: 1963 c 758 s 4; 1971 c 81 s 2; 1986 c 444
480.17 JUDGES, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, OTHER OFFICERS, TO COMPLY WITH
REQUESTS OF COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS.
    Subdivision 1. Compliance with data requests. The judges and court administrators of the
courts and all other officers, state and local, shall comply with all requests made by the court
administrator after approval by the chief justice, for information and statistical data bearing on
the state of the dockets of such courts and such other information as may reflect the business
transacted by them and the expenditure of public moneys for the maintenance and operation of
the judicial system.
    Subd. 2. Compliance failure; removal. The failure of a judge or state or local officer to
comply with requests made by the court administrator pursuant to subdivision 1 is grounds for
removal from office by the appointing authority. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to
restrict the power of the district court to remove a court administrator from office.
    Subd. 3. Court administrator compliance. Every court administrator shall also comply
with requests for statistical or other information made by the district administrator of the judicial
district in which the court administrator serves.
History: 1963 c 758 s 5; 1971 c 81 s 2; 1977 c 432 s 7; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82

QUALIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS

480.175 QUALIFIED COURT INTERPRETERS.
    Subdivision 1. Establishment. The Supreme Court, through the Office of the State Court
Administrator, shall establish a program for training, testing, registering, and certifying qualified
court interpreters.
    Subd. 2. Fees. The Supreme Court may adopt rules to assess fees for training, testing,
registering, and certifying court interpreters. Any fees imposed and collected shall be deposited
with the commissioner of finance and shall constitute a special fund in the state treasury. The
money in this fund shall not cancel back to the general fund and is appropriated annually to the
Supreme Court for the cost of training, testing, certifying, and registering court interpreters.
    Subd. 3.[Repealed, 2007 c 54 art 5 s 21]
History: 1999 c 216 art 6 s 15; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50

CONFERENCE OF JUDGES

480.18 CONFERENCE OF JUDGES; JUDGE'S EXPENSES.
At least once each year the chief justice shall call a conference of the judges of the courts of
record of this state for the consideration of matters relating to judicial business, the improvement
of the judicial system, and the administration of justice. Each judge attending the annual judicial
conference shall be entitled to be reimbursed for necessary expenses to be paid from state
appropriations made for the purposes of sections 480.13 to 480.20.
History: 1963 c 758 s 6; 1977 c 432 s 8; 1986 c 444

TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES

480.181 TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES TO JUDICIAL BRANCH.
    Subdivision 1. State employees; compensation. (a) District court referees, judicial officers,
court reporters, law clerks, district administration staff, other than district administration staff
in the Second and Fourth Judicial Districts, guardian ad litem program coordinators and staff,
staff court interpreters in the Second Judicial District, court psychological services staff in the
Fourth Judicial District, and other court employees under paragraph (b), are state employees
and are governed by the judicial branch personnel rules adopted by the Supreme Court. The
Supreme Court, in consultation with the Judicial Council, shall establish the salary range of
these employees under the judicial branch personnel rules. In establishing the salary ranges, the
Supreme Court shall consider differences in the cost of living in different areas of the state.
(b) The court administrator and employees of the court administrator who are in the Fifth,
Seventh, Eighth, or Ninth Judicial District are state employees. The court administrator and
employees of the court administrator in the remaining judicial districts become state employees
as follows:
(1) effective July 1, 2003, for the Second and Fourth Judicial Districts;
(2) effective July 1, 2004, for the First and Third Judicial Districts; and
(3) effective July 1, 2005, for the Sixth and Tenth Judicial Districts.
    Subd. 2. Election to retain insurance and benefits; retirement. (a) Before a person is
transferred to state employment under this section, the person may elect to do either or both of
the following:
(1) keep life insurance; hospital, medical, and dental insurance; and vacation and sick leave
benefits and accumulated time provided by the county instead of receiving benefits from the state
under the judicial branch personnel rules; or
(2) remain a member of the Public Employees Retirement Association or the Minneapolis
employees retirement fund instead of joining the Minnesota State Retirement System.
Employees who make an election under clause (1) remain on the county payroll, but the
state shall reimburse the county on a quarterly basis for the salary and cost of the benefits
provided by the county. The state shall make the employer contribution to the Public Employees
Retirement Association or the employer contribution under section 422A.101, subdivision 1a,
to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund on behalf of employees who make an election
under clause (2).
(b) An employee who makes an election under paragraph (a), clause (1), may revoke the
election, once, at any time, but if the employee revokes the election, the employee cannot make
another election. An employee who makes an election under paragraph (a), clause (2), may revoke
the election at any time within six months after the person becomes a state employee. Once an
employee revokes this election, the employee cannot make another election.
(c) The Supreme Court, after consultation with the Judicial Council, the commissioner of
employee relations, and the executive directors of the Public Employees Retirement Association
and the Minnesota State Retirement Association, shall adopt procedures for making elections
under this section.
(d) The Supreme Court shall notify all affected employees of the options available under
this section. The executive directors of the Public Employees Retirement Association and the
Minnesota State Retirement System shall provide counseling to affected employees on the effect
of making an election to remain a member of the Public Employees Retirement Association.
    Subd. 3. Accumulated benefits. A person who begins to receive benefits from the state
under the judicial branch personnel rules under this section must receive credit for accumulated
vacation and sick leave time, as certified by the county auditor and district administrator.
    Subd. 4. Date of employment. A person who becomes a state employee under this section is
considered to have begun employment with the state on the date the person became a county or
judicial district employee to determine eligibility for benefits.
    Subd. 5. County to state funding. Whenever a group of court employees is transferred from
county to state funding, the provisions of this section shall apply.
History: 1989 c 335 art 3 s 14; 1991 c 345 art 1 s 97; 1999 c 216 art 7 s 26; 1Sp2001 c 5
art 5 s 13; 2006 c 260 art 5 s 13,14
480.1811 POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT COSTS.
Where court administration, guardian ad litem, or interpreter employees elect to retain
county insurance benefits under section 480.181 after July 1, 2001, and the county provides those
employees post-retirement insurance benefits prior to July 1, 2001, the county shall pay the
post-retirement cost of those benefits.
History: 1Sp2001 c 5 art 5 s 14

STATE ASSUMPTION OF COURT COSTS

480.182 STATE ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN COURT COSTS.
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the state courts will pay for the following
court-related programs and costs:
(1) court interpreter program costs, including the costs of hiring court interpreters;
(2) guardian ad litem program and personnel costs;
(3) examination costs, not including hospitalization or treatment costs, for mental
commitments and related proceedings under chapter 253B;
(4) examination costs under rule 20 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure;
(5) in forma pauperis costs;
(6) costs for transcripts mandated by statute, except in appeal cases and postconviction
cases handled by the Board of Public Defense;
(7) jury program costs; and
(8) witness fees and mileage fees specified in sections 253B.23, subdivision 1; 260B.152,
subdivision 2
; 260C.152, subdivision 2; 260B.331, subdivision 3, clause (a); 260C.331,
subdivision 3
, clause (a); 357.24; 357.32; 525.012, subdivision 5; and 627.02.
History: 1999 c 139 art 4 s 2; 1999 c 216 art 7 s 27; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 5 s 10; 2006 c 260
art 5 s 15
480.183 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS; SCHEDULED DATES OF STATE TRANSFER;
DEFINITION OF SERVICES.
    Subdivision 1. Date of state transfer. The court administration expenditures as defined in
this section for the remaining judicial districts shall be transferred to the state according to the
following schedule:
(1) effective July 1, 2003, the Second and Fourth Judicial Districts;
(2) effective July 1, 2004, the First and Third Judicial Districts; and
(3) effective July 1, 2005, the Sixth and Tenth Judicial Districts.
    Subd. 2. Definition; salary expenditures. "Salary expenditures" means the salary of court
administration employees, including salaries, related fringe benefits, and insurance, granted to
court and other county employees in collective bargaining or county pay plans.
    Subd. 3. Definition; court administration expenditures. "Court administration
expenditures" means the total expenditures of (1) salary expenditures as defined under subdivision
2 and (2) other related administrative operating expenditures.
    Subd. 4. Definition; mandated court services. "Mandated court services" means services
for:
(1) guardian ad litem;
(2) interpreter;
(3) Minnesota Rules, parts 9525.0900 to 9525.1020 (rule 20);
(4) civil commitment examination, not including hospitalization or treatment costs, for
mental commitments and related proceedings under chapter 253B; and
(5) in forma pauperis costs.
History: 1Sp2001 c 5 art 5 s 15

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

480.19 APPLICATION TO SUPREME AND OTHER COURTS.
Sections 480.13 to 480.20 apply to the following courts: The Supreme Court, the Court
of Appeals, and the district court.
History: 1963 c 758 s 7; 1983 c 247 s 167; 1995 c 189 s 8; 1996 c 277 s 1; 1998 c 254
art 2 s 55
480.20 APPLICATION TO SUBSTITUTION OF PROBATE JUDGES.
The provisions of sections 480.13 to 480.20 shall in no way be construed to impair the
authority and manner of substitution of probate judges provided in Minnesota Statutes 1961,
section 525.051.
History: 1963 c 758 s 8
480.21 RESIGNED JUDGES, APPOINTMENT AS COMMISSIONERS.
    Subdivision 1. Commissioner appointments. The Supreme Court may appoint any resigned
judge of the Supreme Court, who is not engaged in the practice of law, as a commissioner of
that court to aid and assist in the performance of such of its duties as may be assigned to the
commissioner with the commissioner's consent.
    Subd. 2. Per diem payments. Such a resigned judge who has been appointed and serves
as a commissioner shall be paid the sum of $35 and actual expenses for each day spent in the
performance of duties as such commissioner, said payment to be made in the same manner as
payment of salaries for Supreme Court judges on certification by the chief judge.
History: 1963 c 760 s 1; 1986 c 444
480.22 LOCATION OF CHAMBERS.
The Supreme Court shall designate the location of chambers for judges of all courts in the
state after consultation with the judges of the affected judicial district. Chambers locations set
forth in section 2.722, subdivision 1, shall remain in effect until changed pursuant to this section.
History: 1977 c 432 s 9
480.23 COMPUTER ACQUISITION BY COURTS.
In order to facilitate the effective management and coordination of the Minnesota courts
system, an appropriate official of any court or of a local governmental unit in providing services
to any court, if authorized by the state court administrator and with the concurrence of the
contracting vendor, may acquire electronic data processing equipment or services through an
existing contract originated by the Supreme Court. The state court administrator shall grant this
authority only pursuant to the implementation of justice information systems compatible with
systems participating on the Minnesota Criminal Justice Information Systems Communications
Network administered by the Department of Public Safety.
History: 1980 c 382 s 1
480.235 TRIAL COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
The cost of operating the trial court information system in a judicial district must be paid by
the state.
History: 1Sp1985 c 13 s 360; 1989 c 335 art 3 s 15
480.236 SOFTWARE SALES.
The Supreme Court may sell or license self-developed or vendor custom-developed
computer software products or systems through whatever sales method the Supreme Court, in its
discretion, deems appropriate, in order to offset its software development costs. Prices for the
software products or systems may be based on market considerations. Proceeds of the sale or
licensing of software products or systems by the Supreme Court must be deposited in the state
treasury and credited to the general fund.
History: 1987 c 404 s 179; 1988 c 686 art 5 s 8

LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS

480.24 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Terms. As used in sections 480.24 to 480.244, the terms defined in this
section have the meanings given them.
    Subd. 2. Eligible client. "Eligible client" means an individual that is financially unable
to afford legal assistance, as determined by a recipient on the basis of eligibility guidelines
established by the Supreme Court pursuant to section 480.243, subdivision 1.
    Subd. 3. Qualified legal services program. "Qualified legal services program" means a
nonprofit corporation which provides or proposes to provide legal services to eligible clients in
civil matters and which is governed by a board of directors composed of attorneys-at-law and
consumers of legal services. A qualified legal services program includes farm legal assistance
providers that have a proven record of delivery of effective, high-quality legal assistance and have
demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing legal issues affecting financially distressed
family farmers throughout the state.
    Subd. 4. Recipient. "Recipient" means a qualified legal services program that receives funds
from the Supreme Court to provide legal services to eligible clients.
    Subd. 5. Nonprofit regional alternative dispute resolution corporation. "Nonprofit
regional alternative dispute resolution corporation" means a nonprofit corporation which trains
and makes available to the public individuals who provide fact-finding, conciliation, mediation, or
nonbinding or binding arbitration services.
History: 1982 c 489 s 2,11; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 376 subd 2; 1986 c 398 art 17 s 1; 1991 c
345 art 1 s 98
480.241 [Repealed, 1990 c 594 art 1 s 81]
480.242 DISTRIBUTION OF CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FUNDS TO QUALIFIED
LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS.
    Subdivision 1. Advisory committee. The Supreme Court shall establish an advisory
committee to assist it in performing its responsibilities under sections 480.24 to 480.244. The
advisory committee shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Supreme Court including seven
attorneys-at-law who are well acquainted with the provision of legal services in civil matters, two
public members who are not attorneys and two persons who would qualify as eligible clients.
Four of the attorney-at-law members shall be nominated by the State Bar Association in the
manner determined by it, and three of the attorney-at-law members shall be nominated by the
programs in Minnesota providing legal services in civil matters on July 1, 1982, with funds
provided by the federal Legal Services Corporation in the manner determined by them. In making
the appointments of the attorney-at-law members, the Supreme Court shall not be bound by the
nominations prescribed by this section. In making appointments to the advisory committee, the
Supreme Court shall ensure that urban and rural areas of the state are represented. The Supreme
Court shall adopt by rule policies and procedures for the operation of the advisory committee
including, but not limited to, policies and procedures governing membership terms, removal of
members, and the filling of membership vacancies.
    Subd. 2. Review of applications; selection of recipients. At times and in accordance with
any procedures as the Supreme Court adopts in the form of court rules, applications for the
expenditure of civil legal services funds shall be accepted from qualified legal services programs
or from local government agencies and nonprofit organizations seeking to establish qualified
alternative dispute resolution programs. The applications shall be reviewed by the advisory
committee, and the advisory committee, subject to review by the Supreme Court, shall distribute
the funds available for this expenditure to qualified legal services programs or to qualified
alternative dispute resolution programs submitting applications. The funds shall be distributed in
accordance with the following formula:
(a) Eighty-five percent of the funds distributed shall be distributed to qualified legal services
programs that have demonstrated an ability as of July 1, 1982, to provide legal services to persons
unable to afford private counsel with funds provided by the federal Legal Services Corporation.
The allocation of funds among the programs selected shall be based upon the number of persons
with incomes below the poverty level established by the United States Census Bureau who reside
in the geographical area served by each program, as determined by the Supreme Court on the
basis of the most recent national census. All funds distributed pursuant to this clause shall be used
for the provision of legal services in civil and farm legal assistance matters as prioritized by
program boards of directors to eligible clients.
(b) Fifteen percent of the funds distributed may be distributed (1) to other qualified legal
services programs for the provision of legal services in civil matters to eligible clients, including
programs which organize members of the private bar to perform services and programs for
qualified alternative dispute resolution, (2) to programs for training mediators operated by
nonprofit alternative dispute resolution corporations, or (3) to qualified legal services programs to
provide family farm legal assistance for financially distressed state farmers. The family farm legal
assistance must be directed at farm financial problems including, but not limited to, liquidation of
farm property including bankruptcy, farm foreclosure, repossession of farm assets, restructuring or
discharge of farm debt, farm credit and general debtor-creditor relations, and tax considerations. If
all the funds to be distributed pursuant to this clause cannot be distributed because of insufficient
acceptable applications, the remaining funds shall be distributed pursuant to clause (a).
A person is eligible for legal assistance under this section if the person is an eligible client as
defined in section 480.24, subdivision 2, or:
(1) is a state resident;
(2) is or has been a farmer or a family shareholder of a family farm corporation within
the preceding 24 months;
(3) has a debt-to-asset ratio greater than 50 percent;
(4) has a reportable federal adjusted gross income of $15,000 or less in the previous year; and
(5) is financially unable to retain legal representation.
Qualifying farmers and small business operators whose bank loans are held by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation are eligible for legal assistance under this section.
    Subd. 3. Timing of distribution of funds. The funds to be distributed to recipients selected
in accordance with the provisions of subdivision 2 shall be distributed by the Supreme Court no
less than twice per calendar year.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270]
    Subd. 5. Permissible family farm legal assistance activities. Qualified legal services
programs that receive funds under the provisions of subdivision 2 may provide the following
types of farm legal assistance activities:
(1) legal backup and research support to attorneys throughout the state who represent
financially distressed farmers;
(2) direct legal advice and representation to eligible farmers in the most effective and efficient
manner, giving special emphasis to enforcement of legal rights affecting large numbers of farmers;
(3) legal information to individual farmers;
(4) general farm related legal education and training to farmers, private attorneys, legal
services staff, state and local officials, state-supported farm management advisors, and the public;
(5) an incoming, statewide, toll-free telephone line to provide the advice and referral
described in this subdivision; and
(6) legal advice and representation to eligible persons whose bank loans are held by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
History: 1982 c 489 s 4,11; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 376 subd 2; 1986 c 398 art 17 s 2; 1989 c 335
art 1 s 255; 1991 c 345 art 1 s 99,100; 1994 c 465 art 3 s 35; 1997 c 7 art 1 s 162
480.243 CLIENT ELIGIBILITY; RECEIPT OF OTHER FUNDS.
    Subdivision 1. Committee eligibility guidelines. The Supreme Court, with the advice of the
advisory committee, shall establish guidelines in the form of court rules to be used by recipients
to determine the eligibility of individuals and organizations for legal services provided with funds
received pursuant to section 480.242. The guidelines shall be designed solely to assist recipients
in determining whether an individual or organization is able to afford or secure legal assistance
from private counsel with respect to the particular matter for which assistance is requested.
    Subd. 2. Receipt of other funds by recipients. Nothing in this section shall be construed
to prohibit a recipient from soliciting and accepting other public or private funds to be used for
the provision of legal services in civil matters to persons who are not eligible clients, and the
guidelines established pursuant to subdivision 1 shall not apply to the use of other funds.
History: 1982 c 489 s 5,11; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 376 subd 2
480.244 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE RECORDS; POSTAWARD AUDITS.
A recipient of funds distributed pursuant to section 480.242 shall maintain revenue and
expenditure records regarding those funds in accordance with acceptable general accounting
principles for a period of five years following their receipt. The legislative auditor may conduct
postaward audits of the funds distributed pursuant to section 480.242 upon the request of the
Supreme Court and the approval of the Legislative Audit Commission.
History: 1982 c 489 s 6,11; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 376 subd 2
480.245 [Repealed, 1989 c 335 art 1 s 270]
480.250 [Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117]
480.252 [Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117]
480.254 [Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117]
480.256 [Repealed, 1991 c 345 art 1 s 117]

DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HARASSMENT

480.30 JUDICIAL TRAINING.
    Subdivision 1. Child abuse; domestic abuse; harassment. The Supreme Court's judicial
education program must include ongoing training for district court judges on child and adolescent
sexual abuse, domestic abuse, harassment, stalking, and related civil and criminal court issues.
The program must include the following:
(1) information about the specific needs of victims;
(2) education on the causes of sexual abuse and family violence;
(3) education on culturally responsive approaches to serving victims;
(4) education on the impacts of domestic abuse and domestic abuse allegations on children
and the importance of considering these impacts when making parenting time and child custody
decisions under chapter 518; and
(5) information on alleged and substantiated reports of domestic abuse, including, but not
limited to, Department of Human Services survey data.
The program also must emphasize the need for the coordination of court and legal victim
advocacy services and include education on sexual abuse and domestic abuse programs and
policies within law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities as well as the court system.
    Subd. 2. Sexual violence. The Supreme Court's judicial education program must include
ongoing training for judges, judicial officers, court services personnel, and sex offender assessors
on the specific sentencing statutes and Sentencing Guidelines applicable to persons convicted
of sex offenses and other crimes that are sexually motivated. The training shall focus on the
sentencing provisions applicable to repeat sex offenders and patterned sex offenders.
    Subd. 3. Bail evaluations. The Supreme Court's judicial education program also must
include training for judges, judicial officers, and court services personnel on how to assure that
their bail evaluations and decisions are racially and culturally neutral.
History: 1992 c 571 art 6 s 1; 1993 c 326 art 2 s 3; 1994 c 636 art 4 s 28; art 8 s 8; 1995 c
226 art 2 s 6; 1997 c 239 art 7 s 6; 2000 c 444 art 2 s 11

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes