6/30/2015. Hennepin County District Court

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1 Hennepin County District Court Peter A. Cahill Chief Judge Fourth Judicial District JUNE 25, 2015 To provide justice through a system that assures equal access for the fair and timely resolution of cases and controversies 62 judges 15 referees 582 FTE staff 1

2 Government Center Family Justice Center Juvenile Justice Center Public Safety Facility Minneapolis City Hall Brookdale in Brooklyn Center Ridgedale in Minnetonka Southdale in Edina 2014 Case Filings in HCDC Housing Court 3 referees handled 34.6% (6,749) of state s total cases in 2014 Free mediation and appeal to a judge Judges statewide consult these referees for their specialized experience / expertise Hearing Office Settled and kept 93% of contested traffic, parking and other tickets out of HCDC courtrooms in 2014 More than 600 web hearings for contested tickets Tuesday evening appointments available at 4 locations 2

3 $59.2 million received from legislature and 2 temporary federal grants $50.6 million collected/disbursed revenue by HCDC to state, Hennepin cities, other public entities which is 85.4% of state-funded operating budget JURY SERVICE 732 jury trials (122 civil criminal) 14.9% goal for jury minority representation 17.6% actual jury minority representation 27,718 HCDC jurors summoned o 63.5% HCDC jurors served 31.5% started jury service 32.0% started on call jury service 40% is national targeted goal 3

4 122 Civil Jury Trials opersonal injury 67 ocontract 30 oother 14 omalpractice 4 oproperty damage 4 oemployment 2 owrongful death (one case did not go to trial) 610 Criminal Jury Trials o1 st degree murder 8 ofelony 377 ogross misdemeanor 81 omisdemeanor 115 ojury requested but did not go to trial CHALLENGES 4

5 Challenges in Civil include Changing customer expectations, 24/7 EFS filings and increased access to imaged records Maintain time standards and provide access and civil justice Complexity with increase to $15,000 in Conciliation Court Responses to Civil challenges include 2 nd shift added for electronic filing Housing, Harassment and Conciliation Court cases assigned to referees Partner with legal community for: o Court and community mediation for Housing, Harassment and Conciliation matters o Pro Bono and flat fee ADR mediation services in major civil cases o Pro Bono consultation and representation in Major Civil and Conciliation Court matters o Legal Aid Clinics in Conciliation Court Non-English speaking litigants in 2014 account for 41.3% (10,275) of state court interpreter requests handled by HCDC Often do not understand legal system Slow trials and reduced court efficiency 5

6 Self-represented litigants seek help at HCDC Litigants without an attorney are assisted at both self-help service centers (HCGC & JJC) At least one party is without an attorney in most family and minor civil cases 36,256 visitors to both centers in 2014 Helps to reduce courtroom delays MN ranks 4 th nationally in number of civil legal aid lawyers Justice Index prepared by National Center for Access to Justice efiling started in Civil almost 5 years ago! Hennepin County District Court Receives First Case Filed Electronically Posted: Monday, October 25, 2010 The first civil case using new e-filing technology in Hennepin County District Court was submitted, initiated and accepted today by the law firm Bassford Remele. Prompted by shrinking budget allotments in Minnesota's downturn economy, the courts are determined to become more efficient and cost effective through the use of technology Initially, the pilot will start with only new attorney initiated cases in the general civil area. It will include all case documents such as court notices; orders and judgments; and service / collection of any required filing fees... Thanks to the collaboration between the courts, law firms and the vendor, Hennepin County District Court is on its way to bring the citizens of Hennepin County a more efficient and innovative way of providing justice. The technology is out there, but it takes precious resources personnel and adequate funding to make it happen, noted Hon. Robert Blaeser, presiding judge over Hennepin County Civil Court Six law firms were selected for the pilot: Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP; Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik, LLS; Faegre & Benson, LLP; Dorsey & Whitney, LLP; Lindquist & Vennum PLLP; and Bassford Remele. efile, eservice, ecitations, echarging Converting archives to images All-electronic court files All imaged public documents at any MN courthouse Quality Assurance reports monitored daily efiling Harassment pilot for self-represented Mandatory for attorneys in Conciliation Court in

7 Civil EFS 62.5% in % in % of Civil documents EFS in May ,386 civil documents filed in 2014 Originators of documents: 79.3% private law firm 17.8% Judicial Branch 2.8% public attorneys.1% justice partners 100 % Civil EFS Civil Court efiling 2014 Initial Docs Only 58, % Subsequent Docs 135, % 160, , , ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Number of Documents Number of Documents 7

8 Civil EFS 69.6% filed/accepted on the same day Centralized, digital court reporting by CCTV Case information on airport-type monitors Kiosks for public defender eligibility 8