Minnesota Court Records & Case Search
Minnesota Court Records & MCRO Search Guide
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) allows the public to search many Minnesota district court cases, scheduled hearings, and available court documents.
Whether you're looking for an upcoming court date, trying to locate a criminal case, or reviewing public case information after an arrest, understanding how MCRO works can make the process easier.
This guide explains how to search Minnesota court records, what information is available, why some cases do not appear in search results, and where to find additional assistance.
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Opens the official Minnesota Judicial Branch MCRO application in a new tab. GPS Bail Bonds does not operate MCRO.
Quick answer
How Do I Search Minnesota Court Records?
Go to the official MCRO application and choose the search tab that fits what you have: Case Search, Document Search, Hearing Search or Judgment Search. If you are looking for a pending criminal case, a case number is often essential — MCRO generally won't return those cases when you search by the defendant's name. The official MCRO FAQ (opens an official external site in a new tab) explains the limits.
On this page
Guide Contents
Section 01 of 15
What Is Minnesota Court Records Online?
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the Minnesota Judicial Branch's free public website for searching state district court records. It covers the trial courts in every Minnesota county — where criminal, civil, family and probate cases are heard. The Judicial Branch's MCRO page (opens an official external site in a new tab) describes what it includes.
MCRO shows publicly accessible court records. Many court records are public, but some are confidential by law or court order, and some public records can be seen only on terminals at a courthouse rather than online.
Rule 8 of the Rules of Public Access (opens an official external site in a new tab) controls which records and documents can be viewed remotely. For example, the court says public documents in civil commitment, domestic abuse, harassment and child-protection cases are not accessible through MCRO. MCRO's terms also note that its information is not the official court record — certified copies come from court administration.
Section 02 of 15
How to Access MCRO
- 1. Open the official MCRO page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website (opens an official external site in a new tab).
- 2. Review the public access notices about what MCRO does and doesn't include.
- 3. Open the MCRO application using the Access MCRO link.
- 4. Select a search category — Case, Document, Hearing or Judgment.
- 5. Enter the required information, such as a case number or a name.
- 6. Review matching case or hearing results.
- 7. Open available records — the case details and any public documents.
On a computer, use MCRO's breadcrumb links at the top of the page to move back — the court says the browser's Back button doesn't work in MCRO. Download documents and open them in a PDF reader.
On a phone, turn the screen sideways for wide result tables, and expect PDFs to open in a separate viewer. A computer is often easier for long case histories.
Section 03 of 15
Understanding the Four MCRO Search Options
Case Search
Find eligible public court cases and review their registers of actions.
Document Search
Find eligible public documents using a case number.
Hearing Search
Find scheduled court hearings through the available search methods.
Judgment Search
Search docketed money judgments by debtor name.
| Tab | Purpose | Search by | Important limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Search | Case details, register of actions and public documents. | Person or business name, attorney name, case number, citation number, attorney bar number. | Pending criminal cases are not returned by defendant-name search. |
| Document Search | Public documents available online. | Case number. | Only documents allowed online; older and restricted documents may be missing. |
| Hearing Search | Scheduled hearings in a case. | Person or business name, case number, judicial officer, attorney name, attorney bar number. | Same pending-criminal name limit as Case Search. |
| Judgment Search | Docketed money judgments and satisfactions. | Debtor name. | Civil money judgments only — not a criminal warrant search. |
Section 04 of 15
How to Search Minnesota Court Cases
Case Search accepts several kinds of input. Not every method works for every case, so start with the most specific detail you have.
- 01
Case number
The most precise search. It finds the case regardless of its status, as long as the case is publicly viewable online.
- 02
Citation number
The number on a ticket or citation. Useful for traffic and other cited offenses.
- 03
Person name
Where permitted. Enter the exact name; a pending criminal case won't appear this way.
- 04
Business name
For cases where a business is a party, such as a civil lawsuit.
- 05
Attorney name
Finds cases where that lawyer appears — a way to reach a case when you don't have the number.
- 06
Attorney bar number
The attorney's Minnesota license number. More precise than the attorney's name.
Exact names, wildcards and Sounds Like
The court says MCRO name searches are exact: results come back only for names that match what you type. To widen a search, MCRO supports a wildcard (*) after the first two letters, and a Sounds Like option for names that may be spelled differently. The MCRO FAQ (opens an official external site in a new tab) has the court's own name-search tips.
Start broad — first and last name, no middle name, no filters — then narrow the results with county, case type or date filters if you get too many.
Section 05 of 15
How to Find a Pending Criminal Case
Minnesota MCRO generally does not return pending criminal cases through defendant-name searches when no conviction has been entered. The court ties this to the definition of conviction in Minnesota Statutes §609.02, subd. 5 (opens an official external site in a new tab). The same limit applies to defendant-name searches in Hearing Search.
To find a pending criminal case, you will usually need one of these:
- The case number.
- The citation number, if a ticket or citation was issued.
- The attorney's name — the defense lawyer or public defender.
- The attorney's bar number.
The case number is often printed on release paperwork, a citation, a court notice or bail paperwork. The defense attorney can provide it, and court administration in the county handling the case can help. Our guide on how bail bonds work in Minnesota lists other places to find case details.
Section 06 of 15
How to Search Minnesota Court Hearings
Hearing Search (opens an official external site in a new tab) shows hearings scheduled in a case. You can search by case number, by name (business names, and person names where permitted), by judicial officer, by attorney name or by attorney bar number.
Results typically show the hearing type, date and time, the court location or courtroom, and the judicial officer. Where the court has set a remote or hybrid appearance, the listing or the court's notice may say so.
Remember the pending-criminal limit: a defendant-name search won't show hearings in a pending criminal case. Use the case number or the attorney instead.
A hearing listed as upcoming may already have taken place earlier that day, and last-minute changes may not appear online. Missing a hearing can lead to a warrant — see failure to appear bail bonds. County hearing locations are covered in guides such as the Sherburne County courthouse guide.
Section 07 of 15
How to Find Court Documents
Document Search (opens an official external site in a new tab) needs a case number. It returns the public documents in that case that are allowed online. You can also reach documents from a case's register of actions in Case Search.
The register of actions lists case events in order, with filing dates, and links to documents that can be viewed online — such as court orders, notices and filings.
The court says documents filed on or after July 1, 2015, are the most widely available. For many case types, only judgments, orders and court-generated notices from earlier years are online, and some older records are available only at the courthouse.
Confidential, sealed and restricted documents are not available. For an official certified copy, contact court administration in the county where the case was filed — for example, through the Anoka County courthouse guide.
Section 08 of 15
Understanding Court Case Information
The case details page (register of actions) uses the fields below. What appears depends on the case type and the county.
| Field | What it means |
|---|---|
| Case number | The court's unique number for the case. It usually reflects the county and year it was filed. |
| Court location | The county district court where the case is filed. |
| Case type | The kind of case, such as felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor or civil. |
| Filed date | When the case began in court. |
| Register of Actions | The case's history: events, filings, hearings and orders in date order. |
| Party information | The parties and their attorneys or self-representation. |
| Hearing date | Past, rescheduled and upcoming hearings, with results where recorded. |
| Charge information | The current and prior charges filed in court — allegations unless a disposition says otherwise. |
| Court order | A judge's written decision, such as release conditions or bail. |
| Disposition | How a charge was resolved, such as dismissal, acquittal or conviction. |
| Judgment | A final court decision, including docketed money judgments in civil cases. |
| Active warrant indicator | A flag showing that someone in the case has an active warrant. |
Release orders often list bail with and without conditions — our guide to conditional vs. unconditional bail explains both, and what happens when a condition is violated.
Section 09 of 15
Minnesota Criminal Case Statuses Explained
Common terms you may see, in plain English. MCRO and county records may word them differently. Our Minnesota criminal court process guide explains each stage of a case.
Pending
The case is active and has not been resolved.
Open
Another way of saying the case is still active in court.
Closed
The court has finished the case. Closed does not mean convicted — dismissals and acquittals close cases too.
Dismissed
A charge or case was ended without a conviction on that charge.
Continued for dismissal
Prosecution is paused on agreed conditions; if they are met, the charge is dismissed.
Conviction
A guilty plea or verdict that the court has accepted and recorded.
Acquittal
A finding of not guilty.
Sentencing
The court's decision on the consequences after a conviction.
Probation
A supervised period with conditions. Alleged violations have their own process — see probation violation bail bonds.
Warrant issued
A judge ordered an arrest, for example after a missed hearing.
A charge is not proof of guilt
Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If bail is set while a case is pending, our bail bond cost guide explains what a bond may cost.
Section 10 of 15
Why a Court Case May Not Appear
Work through these causes before concluding there's no case. The MCRO FAQ (opens an official external site in a new tab) has the court's name-search help.
Pending criminal name restriction
Next step: search by case number, citation number or attorney.
Incorrect name spelling
Next step: use a wildcard after two letters, or Sounds Like.
Missing middle name or initial
Next step: search first and last name only, then try with an initial.
Search filters
Next step: clear county, date and case-type filters and search again.
Case not remotely available
Next step: use a public terminal at a courthouse, or ask court administration.
Expunged or confidential records
Next step: these won't appear publicly. Ask the defense attorney about the case.
Older paper records
Next step: contact court administration in the county where the case was filed.
Case number errors
Next step: check every character, including the county code and year.
Records subject to retention schedules
Next step: very old records may no longer be kept; ask court administration.
Court system availability
Next step: MCRO may be down for maintenance. Try again later.
Not sure which county? The Stearns County courthouse guide is one example of how each county court handles records and hearings.
Section 11 of 15
Court Records, Warrants & Jail Rosters
Court records, custody records and warrant information come from different systems. Each answers a different question.
| Resource | What it covers | Run by | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCRO | Public court case and hearing information. | Minnesota Judicial Branch | Charges filed in court, hearings, orders and outcomes. |
| County jail roster | Public-facing information about people held in county correctional facilities. | County sheriff or jail | Whether someone is listed as in custody. |
| Minnesota DOC Locator | Information about people under Department of Corrections jurisdiction. | Minnesota Department of Corrections | State prison and DOC supervision. |
| Warrant information | Whether a warrant is active. | The court and law enforcement | Confirmation through the relevant court or law enforcement agency. |
MCRO's Active Warrant indicator means someone in the case has an active warrant. It may refer to a party rather than the case you're viewing, and it doesn't confirm current status — confirm with the court or the law enforcement agency.
To locate someone in custody, use our guide on how to find someone in jail in Minnesota; to read custody records, see the Minnesota jail roster guide. For warrants, see our Minnesota warrant search guide and warrant bail bonds, and for state prison, the DOC Locator (opens an official external site in a new tab).
Section 12 of 15
Minnesota County Courthouse Resources
Each county's district court has its own court administration office. These GPS guides cover location, hearings and court contacts; official links open the Judicial Branch's own county pages.
County court resources
County courthouse guides
Pick a county. Court names and districts match the Judicial Branch's district court directory (opens an official external site in a new tab).
Sherburne County Courthouse, Elk River
Tenth Judicial District
Where Sherburne County criminal cases are heard, including first appearances.
Wright County Justice Center, Buffalo
Tenth Judicial District
Wright County District Court hearings, calendars and court administration.
Stearns County Courthouse, St. Cloud
Seventh Judicial District
Stearns County District Court, its court calendar and criminal case offices.
Isanti County Courthouse, Cambridge
Tenth Judicial District
Isanti County District Court hearings and the daily court calendar.
Anoka County District Court, Anoka
Tenth Judicial District
Anoka County District Court, court administration and posting bail at the court.
Another county? The Minnesota Judicial Branch lists every district court, with addresses and contacts, in its official court directory.
Find a Minnesota district court (opens an official external site in a new tab)County guides go further than this statewide overview — for example, the Wright County and Isanti County courthouse guides each link that court's daily calendar.
Section 13 · FAQs
Minnesota Court Records FAQs
Answers to the questions families ask most about Minnesota court records and MCRO.
Open the Minnesota Judicial Branch's MCRO application, accept the terms, and choose Case, Document, Hearing or Judgment Search. Enter a case number, citation number, attorney or name, depending on the tab.
Section 14 · Official sources
Official Minnesota Court Resources
Official court sites and rules this guide relies on. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company and is not affiliated with the Minnesota Judicial Branch or any government agency.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMinnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) — Overview (opens an official external site in a new tab)What MCRO includes and its limits, including that pending criminal cases are not returned by a defendant-name search.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMCRO — Frequently Asked Questions (opens an official external site in a new tab)What MCRO can't do, why pending criminal cases don't appear in defendant-name searches, and name-search tips.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMCRO Case Search (opens an official external site in a new tab)Search public district court cases by case number, citation or name. A court record, not a live jail roster.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMinnesota Judicial Branch (opens an official external site in a new tab)Official site of Minnesota's state courts, with court locations, forms and self-help resources.
- Official government source · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of StatutesRules of Public Access to Records of the Judicial Branch — Rule 8 (opens an official external site in a new tab)Rule 8 sets which court records and documents can be accessed remotely online.
- Official government source · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of StatutesMinnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 6 (Pretrial Release) (opens an official external site in a new tab)Rule 6.02 sets out release without bail, release conditions, the factors courts consider, and review of conditions. Rule 6.03 covers violations.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMinnesota Judicial Branch — District (Trial) Courts (opens an official external site in a new tab)The official directory of district courts by county, with court administration contacts.
- Official government source · Minnesota Judicial BranchMCRO Application (opens an official external site in a new tab)The Case, Document, Hearing and Judgment Search tabs. Accept the terms of use to begin.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and court procedures can change; check the official source or ask a Minnesota attorney about a specific case. GPS Bail Bonds is an independent bail bond company and is not a government agency.
