Source: http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/archive_news.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 22:54:03+00:00

Document:
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota can sustain paid operations through January 18, 2019. During the partial government shutdown, criminal proceedings will proceed normally, however there may be interruption in civil litigation involving Assistant U.S. Attorneys as the Department of Justice is also impacted by the lapse in funding. Because other government agencies may be affected by a shutdown, counsel should consult with courtroom deputies if they have proceedings scheduled that involve other federal agencies. Unless otherwise notified, jurors should report to the federal courthouses as scheduled. Business hours and building access are Monday-Friday from 8:00 to 5:00pm.
Beginning January 1, 2019, The District of Minnesota will require the AO 120 form in patent/trademark cases and the AO 121 form in copyright cases to be completed and filed when the complaint and amended complaints are filed. The forms are located on the Court Forms page under Initiating Documents Forms.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung to the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Judge Leung took his initial oath of office on April 29, 2011 and was re-appointed to another eight-year term on December 20, 2018. Click on the link to view the public notice.
In observation of the National Day of Mourning to honor the memory of former President George H.W. Bush, the District of Minnesota will be closed on Wednesday, December 5. Please contact chambers if you have a proceeding scheduled on Wednesday. The CM/ECF system will be available but the CM/ECF Helpdesk will not be staffed.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce the re-appointment of part-time Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby to the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Judge Huseby took his initial oath of office on February 25, 2015 and was re-appointed to another four-year term on November 21, 2018. Click on the link to view the public notice.
Sharing your PACER account credentials with a third-party service provider or designating that provider as a secondary recipient of a Notice of Electronic Filing or Notice of Docket Activity (NEF/NDA) will give it access to sealed case information and documents in violation of court order. You are urged to use caution in your computer security practices to ensure that sealed documents to which you have access are not disclosed. Fee exempt users should not share the documents they obtain from PACER under the exemption, unless expressly authorized by the court.
The United States District Court has approved amendments to Local Rules 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, and 67.2, to take effect on December 1, 2018. Please click on the link to read the public notice and the amendments in redline and final form.
The Court is also issuing for public comment proposed amendments to Local Rule 5.6, Filing Documents Under Seal in Civil Cases. Please click on the link to read the public notice, the proposed amendments in redline and final form, and the proposed revised Joint Motion Regarding Continued Sealing Form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by December 31, 2018.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Magistrate Judge Steven E. Rau to the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Judge Rau took his initial oath of office on January 14, 2011 and was re-appointed to another eight year term on November 9, 2018. Click on the link to view the public notice.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to Local Rules 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, and 67.2. Please click on the link to read the public notice and the proposed amendments in redline and final form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by October 24, 2018.
U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, District of Minnesota, is accepting applications for the position of U. S Probation Officer. Information about the job can be found on the Employment web page.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce that on September 17, 2018, Nancy E. Brasel took the oath of office to become the Court's 37th United States District Court Judge. Judge Brasel was administered the oath by Chief Judge Tunheim in a private ceremony; a public investiture ceremony will be held at a later date. Please click on the link to view the full press release.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce that today, September 14, 2018, Eric C. Tostrud took the oath of office to become the Court's 36th United States District Court Judge. Professor Tostrud was administered the oath by Chief Judge Tunheim in a private ceremony; a public investiture ceremony will be held at a later date. Please click on the link to view the full press release.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce the Court has selected Elizabeth Cowan Wright to serve as the next U.S. Magistrate Judge. Wright will replaces Magistrate Judge Franklin L. Noel, who is retiring. Wright took the oath of office on September 4, 2018. A formal investiture ceremony will be held at a later date. Please click on the link to view the public notice.
The Judicial Conference approved a new fee for providing copies of records in electronic form when those records are not stored in Case Management/Electronic Case (CM/ECF) or available on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. The new fee is $31 dollars and will become effective September 1, 2018. Please see our updated fee schedule for details.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota is accepting applications for the position of Operations Generalist. Information about the job can be found on the Employment web page.
On July 9, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota celebrated the life and career of Judge Gunnar H. Nordbye, who served as a United States District Court Judge from 1931 until his death in 1977. Judge Nordbye received a recess appointment from President Herbert Hoover to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota created by 46 Stat. 431. Formally nominated on December 16, 1931, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 1932, and received his commission on February 10, 1932. He served as chief judge from 1948-1959, assuming senior status on March 6, 1967.
Portrait artist, Cyd Wicker, expertly created Judge Nordbye's portrait, which now hangs in the Minneapolis Courthouse, based on old photos and family input. The unveiling was a time to remember his legacy; including remarks by Chief Judge John R. Tunheim, Judge Nordbye's peer Judge Donald D. Alsop, History Committee President Thomas Boyd and Judge Nordbye's granddaughter Andrea Basset.
The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on whether U.S. Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung should be recommended for reappointment. Please see the public notice for more information.
The Court has issued guidance in an administrative order regarding how electronic materials may be provided to the Court. The order instructs that: (1) any electronic materials filed with or presented to the Court, Clerk's Office, or Probation Office must not be encrypted; (2) any email messages sent to the Court, Clerk's Office, or Probation Office must not be encrypted unless the sender obtained permission in advance from the intended recipient of the encrypted message; and (3) all electronic materials presented to the Court, Clerk's Office, or Probation Office in an email must not be done using a link to a cloud-based storage system, but must be provided as an attachment to the email. Please see the order for more information.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to Local Rule 5.6, Filing Documents Under Seal in Civil Cases. Please click on the link to read the public notice, the proposed amendments in redline and final form, and the proposed revised Joint Motion Regarding Continued Sealing Form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by July 13, 2018.
To view the full public notice, click here.
The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on whether U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven E. Rau should be recommended for reappointment. Please see the public notice for more information.
The District Court family mourns the passing of Judge Diana Murphy.
The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on whether Part-Time U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby should be recommended for reappointment. Please see the public notice for more information.
The judges of the Eighth Circuit courts invite you to join them August 15 - 17, 2018, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, for the Judicial Conference. This is a full conference for all judges and members of the Bar. For registration and more information, click here.
Beginning April 9, 2018, all civil and criminal Proposed Trial Exhibit and Witness lists must be filed electronically in ECF. Proposed criminal witness lists will be restricted to the party you select during filing. Proposed exhibit lists in criminal cases are not restricted. Proposed witness and exhibit lists in civil cases are also not restricted. You must motion the court to make that request. The new forms for these documents are located under Court Forms > Pretrial, Discovery and Trial Forms. Separate ECF filing events were created to accompany the new forms.
Effective May 1, 2018 the Clerk’s Office will only be accepting exact payment only for all cash transactions. After this date, we will no longer be able to provide change for any payments.
Beginning March 30, 2018, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota will offer an Expedited 3-Day Transcript delivery rate. The new per page rate for an Expedited 3-Day Transcript will be $5.45 per page for the original transcript, $1.05 per page for the first copy, and $0.75 per page for additional copies to the same party. A detailed list of all transcript rates may be found here. Visit the Transcripts, Court Reporters and Digital Audio Recordings webpage for an updated Transcript Order Form, detailed filing instructions, and other important information concerning transcripts, court reporters, and digital audio recordings.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to LR 9.1, Social Security Number in Social Security Cases, to take effect on March 13, 2018. Please click on the link to read the public notice for a brief summary of the amendments.
The view the full public notice, click here.
The United States District Court has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on the selection of a new United States Magistrate Judge. The fourteen-member Panel will be co-chaired by attorneys Ann Anaya and Andy Luger. Please view the public notice for more information.
Over the past few months, Judge Ann Montgomery and members of the MN Hispanic Bar Association and MN Chapter of the Federal Bar Association visited Anwatin Middle School and Cristo Rey High School to continue the outreach and mentoring initiative that began in 2016 with Justice Sotomayor's visit. Photos and information from the programs can be seen here.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit seeks applications from highly qualified candidates for a fourteen-year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of South Dakota. The position will have its duty station in Aberdeen, Mississippi, for the first five years of the term and thereafter as determined by the Eighth and Fifth Circuits under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Bankruptcy Judge Vacancy Pilot Program.
Please visit this United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit web page for more information.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to LR 9.1, Social Security Number in Social Security Cases. Please click on the link to read the public notice. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by February 2, 2018.
Chief Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce Kate Fogarty has been appointed Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, effective January 1, 2018. Please click on the link to view the full Press Release.
The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on whether U.S. Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois should be recommended for reappointment. Please see the public notice for more information.
Beginning Tuesday, September 5, 2017, Miscellaneous Cases will be filed electronically in ECF. Payment for these cases will be made through the filing event via Pay.gov. A filing guide will be available on September 1, 2017, on the U.S. District Court's website under NextGen ECF > Reference Guides & Procedures. An email will be sent this coming weekend with a link to the guide. If you need assistance to file a miscellaneous case, please call the ECF helpdesk at 612-664-5155 or 1-866-325-4975.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has revamped its Community Outreach page which highlights numerous events hosted by the Court.
Judge Donovan Frank and his advocacy for people with disabilities and Karen Loven, a self-advocate with an intellectual disability who serves on CLE panels, were recently featured on WCCO-TV's "Life to the Max" show that highlights stories of perseverance, tenacity and winning attitudes. Judge Frank serves as an advocate for people with disabilities and that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Click here to watch the video.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved several amendments to the Court's Local Rules to take effect April 1, 2017. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the amendments, to see amended LR 7.1, LR 26.1, LR 49.1, LR 67.1, LR 67.2, and LR 83.2, the new Registry Deposit Information Form, the revised Withdrawal Payee Information Form, and the revised Stipulation for Protective Order Form.
On March 31, 2017, the Jury Office will be mailing postcards asking prospective jurors to complete their jury qualification questionnaires online in order for the court to develop its 2017-2019 Jury Wheel.
To access eJuror to complete your qualification questionnaire online, click on the link. For more information on the jury qualification questionnaire process, including a sample postcard and frequently asked questions, click on the links.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public several amendments to its local rules. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and to see the amendments in redline and final form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by March 22, 2017.
Chief U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce that the Court has selected David T. Schultz to serve as its next U.S. Magistrate Judge. Schultz will replace Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron who is retiring. Schultz will take the oath of office on February 7, 2017. Please click on the link to read the press release.
Beginning January 1, 2017, the process for requesting transcripts, realtime or daily court reporting services, and copies of audio recordings from the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota will change. As of January 1, 2017, all such requests must be filed in CM/ECF. Read the public notice for a brief description of the upcoming changes. For detailed filing instructions and other important information concerning transcripts, court reporters, and digital audio recordings, visit the new webpage that may be accessed using the menu options on the left-side of the Court's website.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved changes to the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. The fee changes are effective December 1, 2016. Three of the most notable changes to the fee schedule are the attorney admission fee which will increase from $200 to $205; the miscellaneous case filing fee will increase from $46 to $47; and the certificate of good standing or duplicate certificate of admission fee will increase from $18 to $19. For a complete list of fees, please visit the court fees page of our website by clicking here.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The Court has adopted new LR 5.6, Filing Documents Under Seal in Civil Cases, and the new Joint Motion Regarding Continued Sealing Form. New LR 5.6 and the joint motion form will take effect on Monday, February 27, 2017. Click on the links to read the public notice and to see new LR 5.6 and the Joint Motion Form Regarding Continued Sealing Form.
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules have proposed amendments to their respective rules and forms and are seeking public comment. The public comment period closes on February 15, 2017. The proposed amendments and other information are posted on the Judiciary's website at: http://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/proposed-amendments-published-public-comment.
Two Minneapolis attorneys have been appointed to co-chair a Merit Selection Panel. Please view the public notice for more information.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed new LR 5.6, Filing Documents Under Seal in Civil Cases, and Joint Motion Regarding Continued Sealing Form. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed new rule and to see the proposed new LR 5.6 and Joint Motion Form Regarding Continued Sealing Form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by July 29, 2016.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules. Amendments to LR 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases, take effect on May 16, 2016. Click on the links to read the public notice and amended LR 49.1.
Notice of U.S. Magistrate Judge Vacancy.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of one full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
The salary of the full-time position is $186,852 per year and the position will be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The term of office for a full-time magistrate judge is eight years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms.
To read the full public notice, application instructions, and application form, click on the links. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday, July 29, 2016.
Order regarding USA v. Ahmed, et al (15-49) trial starting on 5/9/16.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect Local Rule 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in final form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by May 4, 2016.
Across the United States, individuals posing as federal court officials and U.S. Marshals are targeting citizens, threatening them with arrest unless they pay. Click on this link for more information.
Effective March 1, 2016, the District of Minnesota will allow Pay.gov users to schedule recurring payments for criminal debt. Recurring payments are only available for those defendants making payments through a checking or savings account (ACH debit) and users must self enroll through Pay.gov to schedule recurring payments. Additional information on how to self enroll and schedule payments can be found under the Criminal Debt link. Questions can be directed to the Clerk's Office at 612-664-5000.
Chief U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim is pleased to announce that the Court has selected Katherine M. Menendez to serve as its next U.S. Magistrate Judge. Menendez will replace Magistrate Judge Jeffrey J. Keyes who is retiring in April. Menendez will take the oath of office on April 28, 2016. Please click on the link to read the press release.
On February 18, 2016, Wilhelmina M. Wright became the 35th person to serve on Minnesota's federal bench. See the press release for additional information.
U. S. Probation and Pretrial Services for the District of Minnesota is advertising for the position of U. S. Probation Officer. Information about the job can be found on the Employment Opportunity web page.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The amendments affect Local Rule 7.2, Procedures in Social Security Cases and a corresponding new Social Security Case Assignment Form; LR 37.1, Form of Discovery Motions; LR Form 3; and LR Form 4. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the amendments and to see the amendments in redline and final form. The amendments will take effect on Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
On September 29, 2015, the Court approved the revised Olmstead Plan in Jensen et al. v. Minnesota Department of Human Services et al. (D. Minn., Civ. No. 09-1775). Please see the webpage for further information.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota will upgrade to NextGen ECF on October 5, 2015. The system will be down for maintenance from October 1, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. until October 5, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. central time. See Administrative Order extending filing deadlines from October 1, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. to October 5, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Please do not bring your paper filings to the court on October 2, 2015, call the helpdesk if you have any emergency filings. Also, there is no need to file declarations of technical difficulties on October 5, 2015, the Administrative Order grants the extension for all filings due while ECF is unavailable.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect Local Rule 7.2, Procedures in Social Security Cases and a new Social Security Case Assignment Form, LR 37.1, Form of Discovery Motions, and LR Form 3 and LR Form 4. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in redline and final form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by October 23, 2015.
On June 17, 2015, the Court issued its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order in Karsjens et al. v. Jesson et al. (D. Minn., Civ. No. 11-3659). Please click on the link to view a copy of the order.
Chief Judge William J. Riley is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric W. Brust to the position of Circuit Librarian for the United States Courts in the Eighth Circuit. Please see the press release for further information.
On July 20, 2015, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota implemented LR 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases. Training sessions will be held monthly through the end of the year. If you have not already attended training or want a refresher course for filing sealed documents in criminal cases, please attend one of our training sessions.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit seeks applications for a fourteen-year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota. Information about the job can be found on the Employment Opportunity web page.
On July 20, 2015, the Court implements new LR 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases. For more information about new LR 49.1, please read the public notice.
In accordance with LR 49.1, starting July 20, 2015, the Court will file in the applicable criminal case all materials that are submitted in connection with sentencing, including any letters, videos, or other materials submitted by family members or victims. Any material submitted in connection with sentencing may be filed under seal until judgment is entered. After judgment is entered, all such materials may become publicly accessible online. For more information about submitting materials in connection with sentencing, please read the notice which will remain posted on the Court's website under the "Sentencing Materials" menu item.
Judge John R. Tunheim succeeds Judge Michael J. Davis as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota on July 1, 2015. Please see the public notice for more information.
As of Monday, August 3, 2015, the Duluth Clerk's Office will only accept exact-change for all cash transactions. For more information, please read the public notice.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules. LR 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases, will be effective on July 20, 2015. Click on the links to read the public notice and new LR 49.1.
The Court appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on the selection of a new full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge. Tom Boyd and Tara Norgard will co-chair the Panel. For more information about the Panel appointment, read the public notice.
The salary of the full-time position is $185,012 per year and the position will be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The term of office for a full-time magistrate judge is eight years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms.
To read the full public notice, application instructions, and application form, click on the links. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday, July 31, 2015.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon T. Huseby to the position of Part-Time U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. Huseby took the oath of office in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis on February 25, 2015. Please click on the link to read the press release.
Please join us for a reception and short program to kick off the opening of a new exhibit highlighting some of Minnesota's many notable women lawyers and judges. Monday, February 23, 2015, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Minneapolis Federal Courthouse, 300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN. Click here for more information.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Becky R. Thorson to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. Thorson took the oath of office in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis on November 24, 2014. Please click on the link to read the press release.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota will be upgrading its CM/ECF software to the Next Generation (NextGen) of CM/ECF in the upcoming months. The District of Minnesota will be the first district court in the country along with the Northern District of Florida and the District of Kansas to upgrade to this new release. Included in this new release is a central sign-on functionality that will give you both PACER and electronic filing access from your PACER account.
Current users will be required to upgrade their PACER accounts in order to file in the District of Minnesota. For more information on the upgrade process, including electronic learning modules, please access the PACER page Improvements Coming to PACER and CM/ECF.
The target date for the new software to be installed is in early 2015. Please watch for further announcements.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules and is issuing a new Local Rule for public comment. Local Rule 7.2, Procedures in Social Security Cases is amended, effective September 12, 2014. New LR 12.1, Criminal Discovery and Pretrial Motions, will be effective on October 13, 2014. In addition, the Court is issuing for public comment proposed new LR 49.1, Filing Documents Under Seal in Criminal Cases. Public comments on proposed new LR 49.1 are due on October 13, 2014. Click on the links to read the public notice about the amendments and proposed amendments, amended LR 7.2, new LR 12.1, and the proposed amendments.
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules have proposed amendments to their respective rules and forms and are seeking public comment. The public comment period closes on February 17, 2015. The proposed amendments and other information are posted on the judiciary's website.
A new juror scam email seeking personal information (social security number, date of birth, driver's license numbers, etc.), which could aid in identity theft has been reported in several federal courts. Please see the "Public Alert" on the United States Courts website.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect Local Rule 7.2 and a new proposed Local Rule 12.1, Criminal Discovery and Pretrial Motions. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in redline and final form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by August 18, 2014.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of one part-time United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
The salary of the part-time position is $13,439 per year and the position will be located in Bemidji. The term of office for a part-time magistrate judge is four years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms.
To read the full public notice, application instructions, and application form, click on the links. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, August 11, 2014.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Hildy Bowbeer to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. Bowbeer took the oath of office in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis on June 23, 2014. Please click on the link to read the press release.
On Friday, June 6, 2014, the Court hosted a reception and tour of the "Freedom Riders" exhibit, which is on display in the Minneapolis Courthouse Atrium until June 20th. The exhibit examines the story of the 1961 Freedom Riders, non-violent protesters who, in interracial groups, travelled through the South and risked their lives to challenge segregated facilities. By bravely confronting violence, intimidation, and imprisonment, the Freedom Riders put pressure on the federal government to ultimately pass some of the most important civil rights legislation in American history. The Freedom Riders' efforts helped move the nation closer to its promise of "equal justice of all."
Friday's event began with opening remarks by Chief Judge Davis about the Court's outreach efforts and the significance and legacy of the Freedom Riders. After this, the program featured inspiring speeches by Daniel Bergin of Twin Cities Public Television ("TPT"); Honorary Chairperson, Dr. Josie R. Johnson; and Keynote Speaker, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison. Magistrate Judge Franklin L. Noel then introduced four of the Minnesota Freedom Riders: Peter Ackerberg, Robert Baum, Dave Morton, and Claire O'Connor. They each shared reflections on their firsthand experiences travelling to Mississippi and facing imprisonment and intimidation. The program concluded with closing remarks by Judge Susan R. Nelson.
The exhibit is available for public viewing at the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis through June 20, 2014, during courthouse business hours.
The "Freedom Riders" exhibition was created by the Gilder Lehrman Institution of American History and PBS's flagship history series, American Experience. It is funded through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The American Experience documentary film Freedom Riders, directed by Stanley Nelson, can be viewed at www.pbs.org/freedomriders. This documentary will air Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. on TPT.
The Court appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on the selection of a new part-time U.S. Magistrate Judge to serve in Bemidji. Judge Donovan W. Frank will chair the Panel. For more information about the Panel appointment, please read the public notice.
On Friday, May 16, 2014, the Court hosted the culminating event of this year's "Open Doors to Federal Courts" program, which focused on the lives of Dred and Harriet Scott and their role in shaping the nation's history. The program was a collaborative effort by the Court, Minneapolis Public Schools, volunteer attorneys from various bar associations, and Mixed Blood Theatre. The event—held at William Mitchell College of Law and attended by approximately 250 high school students from Minneapolis Public Schools—was a great success!
The day began with a welcome by Chief Judge Davis and greetings from Eric S. Janus, President and Dean of William Mitchell College of Law. Students then watched a play about Dred and Harriet Scott performed by members of Mixed Blood Theatre. After this, the students met Lynne Jackson—great–great–granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation—who gave an informative and engaging presentation about the lives of her ancestors. The event concluded with a presentation by a diverse panel of judges and attorneys, including Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright of the Minnesota Supreme Court, Judge Kevin G. Ross of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Judge Lyonel Norris of the Hennepin County District Court, Judge Edward Wilson of the Ramsey County District Court, and attorneys Lariss Jude and Ben Kwan. The panelists shared personal stories of triumph over various obstacles in their lives.
Prior to the May 16th event, Open Doors program volunteer attorneys from various organizations visited students in their U.S. History and Government classes and spoke to them about the Dred Scott decision and about their own life experiences. The Court would like to thank all who participated in the program, including our guests; our speakers and panelists; members of the planning committee; and members of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, the Hispanic Bar Association, the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Urban Debate Program.
Photo 1: The Mixed Blood Theatre actors portraying Dred and Harriet Scott; Judge Kevin G. Ross and Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.
Photo 2: (L to R) MN Court of Appeals Judge Kevin G. Ross, MN Supreme Court Associate Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright; Attorney Lariss Jude; Hennepin County District Court Judge Lyonel Norris.
The Court appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on the selection of a new full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge. Sam Hanson and Rachel Zimmerman will co-chair the Panel. For more information about the Panel appointment, read the public notice.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules, effective May 14, 2014. The following Local Rules are amended: 16.5, 83.5, and 83.6. To see the public notice and the amendments, click on the links.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of one full-time and one part-time United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
The salary of the full-time position is $181,332 per year and the position will be located in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The term of office for a full-time magistrate judge is eight years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms. The salary of the part-time position is $13,439 per year and the position will be located in Bemidji. The term of office for a part-time magistrate judge is four years; incumbents may be reappointed to successive terms.
To read the full public notice, application instructions for the full-time and part-time position, and application form, click on the links. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, June 16, 2014.
The Court is pleased to announce that the Federal Practice Committee has developed an eDiscovery guide, titled Discussion of Electronic Discovery at Rule 26(f) Conferences: A Guide for Practitioners. The Federal Practice Committee developed the guide to help attorneys prepare for meaningful discussion of electronic discovery issues in Rule 26(f) conferences. The guide is available as a resource on the Court's website, under the Court Forms tab, in the pretrial, discovery, and trial forms section. To see the new guide, click on the link.
Please visit the Community Outreach page to learn more about tpt's recent premier of two disability justice projects that the District of Minnesota, under the leadership of Judge Donovan W. Frank has been involved in—a documentary entitled “Independence to Inclusion” and a disability justice website for CLEs and law students.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and the U.S. General Services Administration have renamed the Courthouse in Fergus Falls, located at 118 South Mill St.
The courthouse was renamed after the late Judge Edward J. Devitt, one of Minnesota's most distinguished public servants. The renaming took place in a formal ceremony at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, in which Chief Judge Michael J. Davis presided. The official name of the building is the Edward J. Devitt United States Courthouse and Federal Building.
Judge Mayeron will be located on the 9th Floor and will be using Courtroom 9E.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect Local Rules 16.5, 83.5, and 83.6, and include a new proposed Local Rule 49.1, Filing Documents under Seal in Criminal Cases. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in final and redline form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by April 14, 2014.
The Court has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the Court on the selection of a new U.S. Magistrate Judge. Lewis Remele, Jr. and Rachna Sullivan will co-chair the Panel. To read more information about the Panel appointment, read the public notice.
Presentation materials for the Nuremberg Sympoisum, held on November 15, 2013, are now available for viewing and/or downloading. Please visit our Community Outreach web page.
The Judicial Conference of the United States approved an increase to the appellate filing fee and the fee for retrieving one box of records from the Federal Records Center (FRC) or National Archives (NA). The Judicial Conference has also approved a new fee for each additional box of records retrieved from the FRC and NA. These fee changes are effective December 1, 2013. As of December 1st, it will cost $505.00 to file an appeal; $64.00 to retrieve one box of records from the FRC or NA; and $39.00 to retrieve each additional box of records from the FRC or NA.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules, effective November 18, 2013. Local Rules 83.8 and 83.13 are amended. In addition, the Court has approved a new form, Student Practice Certification and Notice of Appearance of Student Attorney. To see the public notice, the amendments, and new form, click on the links.
The current term of office of Judge Gregory F. Kishel, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota at St. Paul, Minnesota is due to expire on September 30, 2014. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is considering the reappointment of Judge Gregory F. Kishel to a new term of office and has determined that he appears to merit reappointment subject to public notice and opportunity for public comment.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota upgraded the court's Case Management / Electronic Case Filing system (CM/ECF) this past weekend. Updates to the ECF system are available under the CM/ECF tab, Reference Guides, Notice of CM/ECF 6.1 Upgrade.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota hosts the International Exhibit: Lawyers Without Rights: Jewish Lawyers in Germany Under the Third Reich. Please click on the link to view information regarding the ceremony and information about the International Exhibit.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The Court proposes amendments to LR 83.8 and LR 83.13 and a new form. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in final and redline form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by October 18, 2013.
Chief Judge Michael J. Davis and the judges of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota are pleased to announce the reappointments of U.S. Magistrate Judges Franklin L. Noel and Jeanne J. Graham. Please click on the link to view the Press Release.
On May 22nd, at the Bloomington Civic Plaza, an event was held to honor the legacy of Dred and Harriet Scott. The event was hosted by Chief Judge Michael J. Davis and Judge Donovan W. Frank. Please click on the link to view information regarding the event and information about Dred and Harriet Scott.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules, effective May 14, 2013. The following Local Rules are amended: 7.3, 9.1, 39.1, 39.2, 40.1, 47.2, 54.3, 58.1, 67.1, 71.1, 72.1, 72.2, 79.1, 80.1, 83.10, 83.11, 83.12, and 83.13. To see the public notice and the amendments, click on the links.
The Judicial Conference of the United States approved a new $50 administrative fee for filing a civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court. As a result, the fee for filing a civil case will increase from $350 to $400 effective May 1, 2013. See attached notice for more information.
The US District Court, District of Minnesota, recently expanded the Minnesota Chapter Federal Bar Association's Pro Se Project by approving a pilot Early Settlement Conference Project (ESCP). If a case is deemed appropriate for the program, volunteer attorneys will be permitted to enter a limited appearance for the purpose of assisting pro se litigants with a court-annexed early settlement conference.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect several Local Rules and include a new proposed rule on criminal discovery and pretrial motions. Please click on the links to read the public notice for a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in final and redline form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by April 19, 2013.
The court has issued a notice announcing a public comment period for feedback regarding the reappointment of Magistrate Judge Graham and Magistrate Judge Noel. A Merit Selection Panel has been appointed by Chief Judge Davis to advise the court on the reappointments. See the full notice for details.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is implementing amendments to the Local Rule 67.2, concerning the withdrawal of money from the Court registry. By statute, these amendments will become effective on January 28, 2013 and are posted by the Court for public review and comment through February 28, 2013. All public comments to the amendments must be submitted by February 28, 2013. For more information on the amendments to this rule, see the public notice.
The US District Court is pleased to announce several procedural changes involving CM/ECF and the payment of fees. These changes will be implemented at various times over the next few weeks as noted in the attached announcement.
Chief Judge Michael J. Davis and the court are pleased to announce that the federal courthouses in Minneapolis, St Paul, Duluth and Fergus Falls are now offering free wireless internet (WiFi) access in all courtrooms, attorney conference rooms, circuit libraries, jury assembly rooms, and the Minneapolis Federal Cafe.
Click here for the terms and instructions concerning the WiFi network.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has approved amendments to the Court's Local Rules, effective July 23, 2012. The following Local Rules are amended: 1.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.3, 5.5, 6.1, 7.1, 9.3, 15.1, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 17.1, 23.1, 26.1, 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 37.1, 37.2, 38.1, 54.3, 72.2, Form 3, and Form 4. In response to the Local Rule amendments, several resources available on the website have been updated, including the ECF Procedure Guides and Manuals. In addition, the Notice of Hearing form has been revised and a new Meet-and-Confer Statement form has been created. To see the public notice and the amendments, click on the links.
To view the Public Notice that summarizes the changes in CM-ECF due to amendments to Local Rules, please click on the link.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The proposed amendments affect several of the Court's Local Rules, including significant proposed amendments to LR 7.1Civil Motion Practice, the rules governing civil pretrial procedure, and Forms 3-4. Please click on the links to read the public notice that contains a brief summary of the proposed amendments and the proposed amendments in final and redline form. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by July 6, 2012.
The United States District Court, District of Minnesota has updated its Bill of Costs Guide in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding document translation services and the taxation of costs statute. The updated Bill of Costs Guide may be found under the Information and Court Forms tabs.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota has updated the CM/ECF Menu Break Down-Event List by Category. It is now available on the District of Minnesota's Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system.
The CM/ECF Menu Break Down-Event List by Category lists all docket events for civil and criminal and lists the menu item the event appears on.
The increase in the electronic public access fee, from $.08 to $.10 per page, will take effect on April 1, 2012. The Judicial Conference of the United States authorized an increase in the Judiciary's electronic public access fee in response to increasing costs for maintaining and enhancing the electronic public access system. PACER users who do not accrue charges of more than $15 in a quarterly billing cycle will not be charged a fee (this is an increase in the exemption from $10 per quarter).
The court has issued a notice announcing a public comment period for feedback regarding the reappointment of Magistrate Judge Boylan. A Merit Selection Panel has been appointed by Chief Judge Davis to advise the court on the reappointment. See the full notice for details.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has updated its Bill of Costs Guide. The updated Bill of Costs Guide may be found under the Information and Court Forms tabs.
The Judicial Conference of the United States increased certain miscellaneous fees for federal courts effective November 1, 2011. Click here for a list of affected fees.
Members of the Bar in the Eighth Circuit are invited to the 2012 Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference August 8 - 10, 2012 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Please see click here to read the full announcement.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota will be upgrading the court's Case Management/Electronic Case Filing system (CM/ECF) on Saturday, August 27, 2011. After the upgrade, all users will be required to change their CM/ECF password as a security enhancement. Please click on the link to view directions on changing your password.
The United States District Court is open for business as usual. The Court is not affected by the state government shutdown in Minnesota.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony N. Leung to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. Leung took the oath of office in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis on April 29, 2011. Please click on the link to view the Press Release.
Lisa Rosenthal has been selected as the new Chief Deputy Clerk for the District of Minnesota. Please see the Press Release for further details.
Please note, that in the event there is a government shutdown, the District of Minnesota will remain fully operational and continue to hear and decide cases without interruption from April 11, 2011, through Friday, April 22, 2011. We suggest you check this website regularly for announcements relative to the budget situation. Please see the Press Release for further details.
New Resources for Pro Se Filers.
The District of Minnesota is proud to announce the addition of new resources for pro se filers to its Representing Yourself (Pro Se) website. The new resources include guidebooks, information sheets, and forms for the four types of prisoner actions or motions filed in federal court. The Court also introduces new voluntary and stipulated dismissal forms, an updated information sheet on in forma pauperis status, and a new information sheet on how to respond to a summons and complaint. To see these resources, please click on the link.
Judge Boylan will be located on the 9th Floor and will be using Courtroom 9E.
The U.S. District Court is pleased to announce the appointment of U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven E. Rau. See the Press Release for details.
Judge Nelson will be located on the 7th Floor and will be using Courtroom 7B.
On Saturday, 1/15/2011, from 9AM to 6 PM, the PACER-Net will be transitioning its Internet Data Centers (IDCs), including the CM/ECF Centralized Authentication and Billing service, to a new provider. Users of CM/ECF and PACER will experience interruptions in service during the transition period. If your session is disrupted, we recommend that you wait 30 minutes before attempting to re-establish the session.
The CMECF system will be unavailable Friday, January 7, 2011 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM due to hardware maintenance. This outage will affect access for attorney e-filers and public (PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
Susan Richard Nelson to Take Federal Court Oath.
On December 22, 2010 Susan Richard Nelson will become the 34th person to serve on Minnesota's federal bench. See the press release for additional information.
The District of Minnesota is pleased to announce the reappointment of Magistrate Judge Mary Kay Klein to her judicial position in Bemidji. See the Press Release for information.
A new civil motions glossary has been created to assist attorneys in filing civil motions electronically. The glossary defines every civil motion available in the District of Minnesota's ECF filing event dictionary. Please use this glossary as a guide for determining which civil motion to use for your particular situation.
Please see the court's website to review the new civil motions glossary.
If you have any questions, please contact the CM/ECF help desk at 612-664-5155 or 1-866-325-4975.
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Court's Local Rules. The following Local Rules are affected: 1.1, 5.1. 5.2, 5.4, 7.2, 24.1, 67.1, 67.3, 83.5, and 83.7. In addition, the Court is proposing that LR 67.3, concerning withdrawing money from the court registry, be renumbered to LR 67.2 and that a new LR 67.3, concerning bonds and sureties, will take its place. The Court is also issuing for public comment one new form and one revised form to accord with the proposed amendments to renumbered LR 63.2 and LR 83.5. All public comments to the proposed amendments must be submitted by December 23, 2010. To see the public notice and the language of the proposed amendments, click on the links.
Thursday, October 28, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Civil Session Topics: ECF Overview and Support Information, Initiating Cases, Documentation Basics, Demonstration of Electronic Filing, Key Reminders, Filing Stipulations and Exhibits, Redaction of Personal Data Identifiers, Filing Sealed Documents, ECF Transcript process, Electronic Payment through Pay.gov, Question & Answer.
The United States District Court, District of Minnesota's CM/ECF system will be unavailable from 5:00pm Friday, October 1, 2010 until 5:00pm Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 for a planned hardware upgrade.
This interruption of CM/ECF access will affect all attorney e-filers and public (PACER) users.
Effective August 30, 2010, U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan was elevated to Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. He succeeds Chief Magistrate Judge Raymond L. Erickson who retired from the federal bench on August 30, 2010. Please view the Press Release for more details.
The Court has appointed Leo I. Brisbois as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Minnesota. Brisbois will take the oath of office on Monday, August 30, 2010, and will chamber in Duluth. To see the full press release, visit this link.
Judge Schiltz will be located on the 14th Floor and will be using Courtroom 14E. Any proceedings scheduled before September 13 will be heard at the St. Paul Courthouse in Courtroom 7B. Please contact Sherry Fast, Judge Schiltz's calendar clerk, at (651) 848-1906 if you have any questions about the location of your hearing.
The court has issued a notice announcing a public comment period for feedback regarding the reappointment of Magistrate Judge Mayeron. A Merit Selection Panel has been appointed by Chief Judge Davis to advise the court on the reappointment. See the full notice for details.
The Court has issued a public notice seeking comments on the reappointment of current Part-time Magistrate Judge Mary Kay Klein in Bemidji. See the notice for information.
The Court has announced the appointment of the Merit Selection Panel who will consider applicants for the upcoming Magistrate Judge vacancy in the Twin Cities. See the Notice for additional information.
The District of Minnesota is seeking applicants for a U.S. Magistrate Judge position in the Twin Cities. See the Public Notice, Instructions to Applicants, and Application (PDF or MS Word) for additional information. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, on Wednesday, July 21, 2010.
The CMECF system will be unavailable Monday, August 30, from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM due to hardware maintenance. This outage will affect access for attorney e-filers and public(PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The deadline to apply for the U.S. Magistrate Judge position in the District of Minnesota has been extended to Friday, August 6, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. See the full notice for information, as well as the Instructions to Applicants, and Application (PDF or MS Word).
The CMECF system will be unavailable Saturday July 24, 2010, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM due to scheduled hardware maintenance. This outage will affect access for attorney e-filers and public(PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The CMECF system will be unavailable Sunday June 27, 2010, 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM due to scheduled hardware maintenance. This outage will affect all access to CM-ECF - including court users, attorney e-filers and public(PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
Due to the upcoming retirement of Magistrate Judge Raymond L. Erickson in the Duluth division, he has been removed from the civil case assignment wheel effective June 21, 2010. Any new civil case assignments from the 5th and 6th divisions, Duluth and Fergus Falls respectively, will be assigned to Magistrate Judge Erickson's successor in Duluth, who will be listed as Magistrate Judge X on the docket.
Any emergency hearings or matters for Magistrate Judge X should be directed to Vicki Miller at 218-529-3520, who will discuss these issues with Magistrate Judge Arthur J. Boylan.
12 MORE DAYS TO REGISTER FOR THE FBA SEMINAR!
You won't want to miss the session on pleading and federal court litigation in the wake of the Iqbal and Twombly Supreme Court decisions. The Honorable Patrick J. Schiltz will present the judicial perspective on Iqbal and Twombly, while insiders Gregory Garre and Professor Stephen Burbank, University of Pennsylvania, will present opposing perspectives on the two cases.
As United States Solicitor General, Mr. Garre successfully argued Iqbal before the U.S. Supreme Court, and recently defended Iqbal and Twombly at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in December 2009. Professor Burbank testified at that same hearing, lodging criticism against Iqbal and Twombly. Click here for Seminar Information, Agenda and Registration Materials.
The CMECF system will be unavailable Friday June 11, 2010, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM due to software maintenance. This brief outage will affect all access to CM-ECF - including attorney e-filers and public(PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association thank you for participating in the patent litigation survey that was distributed earlier this year. A summary of the written responses can be found by clicking on the link.
The FBA now will conduct "focus group" discussions to gain enhanced feedback on Markman proceedings in the District of Minnesota. You are cordially invited to join in these focus group discussions. Please RSVP by following the link below. One hour of CLE credit has been requested for each session. The FBA will present the findings from the written survey and focus group discussions in an upcoming public forum.
*Please RSVP by clicking on the link. Contact Tara Norgard with questions (tnorgard@ccvl.com or 612-436-9620).
The 36th Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar is being held on June 22 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. See the link for additional information.
Starting Monday, February 22, 2010, the Court will provide public computer terminals for pro se litigants in its Minneapolis and St. Paul Clerk's Offices. These terminals provide access to the Court's website and Pro Se Civil Guidebook. The terminals also feature a new web application, E-Pro Se, which allows the user to create a civil complaint, summons and civil cover sheet by answering a series of simple questions.
The Court has announced the appointment of the Merit Selection Panel who will consider the Duluth U.S. Magistrate Judge candidates. See the notice for additional details.
The District of Minnesota is seeking applicants for a U.S. Magistrate Judge position in Duluth, Minnesota. See the Public Notice, Instructions to Applicants, and Application (PDF or MS Word) for additional information. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, on Friday, February 26, 2010.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Trevor Cook et al.
The First Receiver Reports for U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commision v. Trevor Cook et al. and United States Securities and Exchange Commission v. Trevor Cook et al., are now available. Please click on the links to view the reports.
A new webpage was created on the U.S. District Court's site for parties interested in the U.S. Commodity Futures Training Commission and U.S. Securities Exchange Commission v. Trevor Cook et al cases. The page contains a summary of the case, upcoming court proceedings, links to orders signed in this case, a link to the Receiver Website and to the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website.
Congratulations to Judge Frank who has been appointed the Chair of the Federal Bar Association Task Force on Diversity. Please see the Press Release for details.
The District of Minnesota is proud to announce the addition of a new webpage, Representing Yourself (Pro Se), to its website. This webpage contains a collection of resources designed to be of assistance to pro se filers. New resources include a Pro Se Civil Guidebook, glossary, and answers to common pro se questions.
On December 1, 2009, several local rules will be amended. These amendments are in response to the Federal Rule changes that take effect on December 1, 2009, concerning how to compute time. In addition, LR 54.3, "Time Limit for Motion for Award of Attorney's Fees" will change to provide a procedure for the taxation of costs. For more information regarding these amendments or the upcoming Federal Rule changes, click on the links to see the public notice and the full text of the upcoming amendments.
The forms menu on the Court's website has been updated to incorporate nine new forms designed to be of assistance to pro se litigants. These forms consist of a Complaint (general); Employment Discrimination Complaint; Complaint for Judicial Review of a Decision of the Commissioner of Social Security; Motion (general); Notice of Hearing; Memorandum of Law; Certificate of Service by Mail; Certificate of Electronic Service; Certificate of Electronic Service for Motion Papers; and a Notice of Appeal. In addition, the IFP application, AO240 Application to Proceed without Payment, has been replaced with the restyled AO239 Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees and Costs. Please visit the Court Forms menu to see these new forms.
The District of Minnesota is proposing several changes to the Local Rules. These proposed changes are in response to the Federal Rule changes effective December 1, 2009, concerning how to compute time. In addition, the Court proposes to amend LR 54.3, "Time Limit for Motion for Award of Attorney's Fees" to provide a procedure for the taxation of costs. For more information regarding the proposed rule changes or the upcoming Federal Rule changes, read the public notice and to see the full text of the proposed changes, click on the links. Public comment on the proposed amendments is due by October 16, 2009.
Beginning 9/14/2009, the court's case management system (CM/ECF) incorporates a new feature for attorney e-filers. At the login prompt, attorneys must acknowledge their responsibility for redaction of electronically filed documents under Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2 and Fed. R. Crim. P. 49.1 by clicking a checkbox on the login screen. This change reflects national Judicial Conference policy.
Beginning 9/21/2009, the court will implement changes to CM/ECF which allow for the electronic payment of certain court fees. Secure, on-line payments may be made by credit/debit card as part of specific e-filing events through the U.S. Treasury’s Pay.gov website. Please see the Public Notice for more information.
For details on using CM/ECF to make electronic payments , please review the Procedure Guide and FAQ's on using Pay.gov.
The CMECF system will be unavailable Saturday 07/25/2009 from 08:00am - 2:00pm due to system upgrade. The interruption will affect attorney e-filers and public(PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The District of Minnesota is proposing several changes to the local rules. Substantive changes are proposed for Local Rules 7.1 - Civil Motion Practice and LR 83.10 - Sentencing. In addition, minor or technical changes are proposed for LR 7.2, 9.1, 15.1, 37.1, 72.2, and Form 3. For more information regarding the proposed rule changes, read the public notice and to see the full text of the proposed changes, click on the links. Public comment on the proposed rule changes are due by August 21, 2009.
A new version of the court's CM/ECF case management software will be implemented beginning on Monday, July 27, 2009. CM/ECF version 4.0 will provide several improvements for attorney e-filers and PACER users, including a new interface for adding filers/parties, an improved method for adding documents and attachments, improvements to e-mail configuration for attorney ECF accounts, and more. For details on the new features, please review the guide to CM/ECF ver. 4.0 Enhancements for Attorney E-Filers and PACER Users.
The District of Minnesota will offer live, interactive demonstrations to introduce attorneys, paralegals and others to the new e-filing features of CM/ECF, ver. 4.0. Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 2:00 PM, and on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at 9:00 AM.
These live demonstrations will provide e-filers with two ways to learn about ver. 4.0 enhancements. The sessions may be attended in person, at the Minneapolis, St. Paul or Duluth courthouses -- or from any location via the internet, using WebEx and a telephone connection. Each session is free, but advance registration is required. For details and registration instructions, please see the CM/ECF Ver. 4.0 WebEx Training Sessions page.
Due to system maintenance, the court's CM/ECF system will be unavailable Saturday, June 6 from 3:30am to 4:00 am CST. The interruption will affect both attorney e-filers and public (PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The 35th Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar is being held on June 24 in Minneapolis. See the link for additional information.
Effective Friday, May 1, 2009, the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, will increase the individual file size limit for PDF documents filed on the court's CM/ECF system. The current file size limit of 2.5 MB per document will increase to 5 MB per document.
For attorney e-filers, this change will reduce the need to split large documents filed electronically in CM/ECF, such as exhibits, into two or more smaller PDF documents. It also means that some e-filed documents could take longer to view/download when accessing them from e-mail Notices of Electronic Filing (NEFs), or when using PACER. The complete announcement regarding this change is available on the court's public website. Please click on the link to view the announcement.
For assistance with PDF documents or other questions, please contact the court's ECF HelpDesk at 1-866-325-4975 or 612-664-5155 or by e-mail at: ecfhelpdesk@mnd.uscourts.gov .
Due to system maintenance, the court's CM/ECF system will be unavailable Monday, March 16 from 6:00pm to 9:00 pm CST. The interruption will affect both attorney e-filers and public (PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
Due to system maintenance, the court's CM/ECF system will be unavailable on Saturday, February 21 at 08:00am through Sunday February 22 at 12:00pm. The interruption will affect both attorney e-filers and public (PACER) users. Please plan accordingly.
The District of Minnesota will increase the PDF file size limit from 2.5 MB per document to 5MB per document, effective May 1, 2009. See the public notice for additional information.
There will be a short interrupt to CM/ECF Saturday January 31, 2009 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm for system maintenance. It is anticipated the system will be available by 1:00pm.
The CM/ECF system will be unavailable Saturday October 25th from 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM for system maintenance.
Beginning September 15th, the U.S. District Court will be back in the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. Please view the notice for information about the newly renovated St. Paul Courthouse.
The Court proposes amendments to Local Rule 83.5(d), which provides for the pro hac vice admission of attorneys. For more information regarding the proposed rule change, read the public notice. Public comment on the proposed rule change is due by September 8, 2008. To see the full text of the proposed changes to LR 83.5(d) and the amended Clerk’s Office forms associated with this proposed rule change, click on the links.
The CM/ECF system will be unavailable Friday August 8th from 05:00am - 05:30am for system maintenance.
Judge Michael J. Davis will succeed Judge James M. Rosenbaum as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota on July 1, 2008. Please see the Press Release for more information.
The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota is pleased to announce the unveiling of our new web site. The revised site provides visitors with dramatic improvements in navigation, uniformity, appearance, and accessibility. To view the Press Release , click on the link.
To file motions to exclude time under the Act, attorneys will have to either use the new CM/ECF event "Motion to Exclude Time Under the Speedy Trial Act" or file a Motion for Continuance to exclude time. The event "Waiver of Speedy Trial" has been removed from CM/ECF. The following forms have been posted on the "Forms" section of the Court's website (under Criminal Forms) connected to this change in procedure: "Motion to Exclude Time Under the Speedy Trial Act," and a "Statement of Facts in Support of Exclusion of Time Under Speedy Trial Act" and a "Proposed Order".
Effective May 12, 2008, all transcripts prepared by a court reporter of any court proceeding in this District may become electronically available on the Court's CM/ECF system and the judiciary's PACER system. The public notice will provide the details regarding this change. To implement this new policy, the Court adopts amendments to the Local Rules, effective May 12, 2008, with the addition of LR 5.5 and amendments to LR 80.1. To view the full text of LR 5.5 and 80.1 and the Court's Policy for Electronic Access to Transcripts of Court Proceedings in CM/ECF and PACER , click on the links.
The CM/ECF system will be unavailable Saturday May 10th from 08:00am - 12:00pm. The system will be upgraded to v3.2.1. It is anticipated that the system will be available again by 12:00pm Saturday May 10th.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Richard Nelson has been reappointed to a second term. To view the Press Release , click on the link.
Chief Judge James M. Rosenbaum is pleased to announce the appointment of the new U. S. Magistrate Judge for the District. Please read the press release for the details.
CM/ECF will be unavailable from 8:00am until 12:00pm on Saturday, March 29, 2008 for system maintenance.
For the past seven years, the court has been providing electronic access to selected documents through a service called CourtWeb. Beginning April 1, the CourtWeb service will be discontinued due to the availability of court documents on PACER. PACER is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy courts, and from the U.S. Party/Case Index. Electronic access is available by registering with the PACER Service Center, the judiciary's centralized registration billing and technical support center. You can access the District of Minnesota's PACER site by clicking on this link. This decision does not affect the Court's web site, www.mnd.uscourts.gov. The web site will continue to be updated and available to the public.
The following forms have been posted on the "Forms" section of the website: Form 3. Rule 26(f) Report, Form 4. Rule 26(f) Report (Patent Cases), Form 5. Stipulation for Protective Order, Form 6. Stipulation for Protective Order.
CM/ECF will be unavailable from 5:00am until 5:30am on Thursday, February 28, 2008 for system maintenance.
CM/ECF will be unavailable from 6:00am until 6:30am on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 for system maintenance.
The District of Minnesota will be upgrading the ECF system to a newer version on February 5. The system will be unavailable from 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2 through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 3. Please review this notice to ECF users which provides an overview of the enhancements. One of the key features for lawyers will be the ability to file documents that include hyperlinks to previously filed cases on ECF. The Guide to Using Cross-Document Hyperlinks in CM/ECF will provide a step-by-step instruction on how to use this feature in your filings. For more detailed information on the upgrade, review the CM/ECF Guide for Attorneys and Public Users .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond L. Erickson has been reappointed to a third term. Follow the link to view the Press Release.
The Court revised the ECF Procedures pursuant to the changes in the Federal Rules. See the Public Notice for additional information.
The Judicial Conference of the U.S. Courts has authorized a ten percent increase in transcript rates. Please see the attached order for specific rates. A signed copy of the order is available at the Clerk's Office.
CM/ECF will be unavailable between 1:00pm and 3:00pm Saturday, November 17th 2007 for system maintenance.
The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the creation of a new Magistrate Judge position in the District of Minnesota. Additional information, including details on applying for the position are included in the Public Notice . The Court has appointed a Merit Selection Panel to advise the court on the selection of finalists for the position. The position application and instructions are available at this link .
CM/ECF will be unavailable from 9:00 PM to 9:45 PM on Tuesday, November 6 for unanticipated system maintenance. During this time Electronic Case Filing will be unavailable.
CM/ECF may be unavailable from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM on Tuesday, October 30 for testing related to Pacernet line problems.
The Court has approved several revisions to the Local Rules. See the Public Notice for additional information, and visit the Local rules link for the complete updates.
Rensselaer Nelson, the first United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota, is the subject of a display in the lobby of the Federal Courthouse in Minneapolis. Appointed by President Buchanan in 1858, Nelson served on the federal bench until his retirement in 1896. The display is sponsored by the Minnesota branch of the Eighth Circuit Historical Society and includes photographs, excerpts from Judge Nelson's opinions, and comments from his contemporaries. The display is open to the public during normal building hours through the end of 2008, in conjunction with Minnesota's sesquicentennial.
The CJA Information Page has been updated to reflect a cost-of-living adjustment to the non-capital panel attorney compensation rate from $92 to $94/hour for attorneys appointed to represent eligible persons under the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. 3006A. The new rate applies to work performed on or after May 20, 2007.

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