JUDICIAL BRANCH Supreme Court

The is, in effect, the final arbitrator of the constitutional rights of the people of the state of Minnesota. Minnesota Judicial Supreme Court decisions often serve as precedent for future cases. Branch Currently, the Supreme Court reviews petitions in Vision approximately 900 cases a year and accepts review in about 1 in 8 The general public and those cases. These cases can come from the Minnesota Court of Appeals, who use the court system will Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals, Tax Court, Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, and Board of Judicial Standards. refer to it as accessible, fair, Election contests and appeals for first-degree murder cases are consistent, responsive, free of automatically appealed to the Supreme Court. discrimination, independent, and well managed. The Supreme Court is responsible for the regulation of the practice of law and for judicial and lawyer discipline. Additionally, as Mission the highest court in Minnesota, it promulgates rules of practice and To provide justice through a procedure for the legal system in the state. system that assures equal Each justice is a liaison to a number of Supreme Court boards access for the fair and timely and other state policy commissions that are charged with resolution of cases and responsibilities ranging from day-to-day administration to strategic controversies. planning.

M INNESOTA J UDICIAL B RANCH

135 Minnesota Judicial Center 25 Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

St. Paul, MN 55155 Back L to R: Justices Wilhelmina M. Wright, Christopher J. Dietzen, David R. Stras, David L. Lillehaug Phone: 651-296-2474 Front L to R: Justice Alan C. Page, Lorie S. Gildea, Justice G. Fax: 651-297-5636 For further information, please visit: http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=550 Visitor’s W HEN DO ORAL H OW MANY CASES Guide to Oral ARGUMENTS OCCUR? DOES THE SUPREME Arguments C OURT HEAR? The Supreme Court hears oral The Supreme Court grants review Minnesota arguments during the first two of approximately 12 percent of the Supreme weeks of each month from 600-700 petitions it receives each Court September through June. Week year. The Court hears appeals one oral arguments occur in the from the Minnesota Court of nd courtroom on the 2 floor of the Appeals, the Workers’ State Capitol. Week two Compensation Court of Appeals, arguments occur in Courtroom the Tax Court, as well as election 300 of the Minnesota Judicial matters. The Court also Center. When the justices are not automatically hears all first-degree hearing oral arguments, they are murder appeals from the district busy writing opinions, reviewing courts. petitions for review, reading case briefs for upcoming cases, and Welcome to the Minnesota Supreme Court, managing the administration of the state’s highest court. justice in the state. Each justice You will see oral arguments serves as a judicial district liaison of a case selected for and leads various task forces, hearing by at least three Supreme Court Justices boards and committees devoted because of its significance to the delivery of justice in the to Minnesota law and the state. citizens of the state. This guide will prepare you for Minnesota Judicial Center, St. Paul your visit.  Respondent’s attorney ar- What happens gues and answers judges’ Courtroom questions. Twenty-five during minutes are allotted. decorum  Rebuttal by appellant’s attor- oral arguments? Please help us maintain decorum. ney. Typically, the appel- Issues of statewide importance are lant’s attorney reserves five decided based on oral arguments.  Marshal calls court to minutes of his/her total time Therefore, it is critical that the justic- order; audience stands. to respond to the opposing es and attorneys work without dis- During oral arguments, the party’s arguments. traction. Please consider the follow- marshal maintains court-  Justices conference the case. ing guidelines while in court: room decorum and ensures One judge is randomly as- that attorneys adhere to signed to draft the Court’s  Sit in the audience area of the time limitations. “opinion” or decision, which courtroom. Standing is prohib-  Seven justices enter the ited during oral arguments. is discussed during the  Remain silent during the pro- courtroom. Prior to oral conference. arguments the justices pre- ceedings.  Justices draft and revise the  You may not eat, drink, chew pare by reading “briefs,” Court’s opinion. The draft is gum or use tobacco in the which are documents sub- circulated among all seven courtroom. mitted to the Court by the justices to revise. They may  Remove hats before entering parties involved. Briefs ex- also write a “concurring the courtroom. plain the legal questions opinion” – agreeing with the  No demonstrations are al- and points of view that the decision but for different lowed, including signs, banners or displays of symbols. attorneys will argue. The reasons – or a “dissenting justices are seated in order  Electronic recording devices opinion” – disagreeing with are prohibited, except when of seniority, with the Chief the majority opinion. Justice in the middle of the permission is given to the  Opinion filed with Clerk of media. bench. Appellate Courts, released to  Turn off all pagers and wireless  Appellant’s attorney the parties and the public via telephones before entering the The argues the case. the Judicial Branch web site, courtroom. attorney representing the www.mncourts.gov. appealing party answers  Though no one knows exactly judges’ questions about when the Court will hand his/her legal argument. down its decision, opinions Thirty-five minutes are al- are generally released about 3 lotted. -5 months following oral ar- Minnesota Judicial Center, St. Paul guments. Minnesota H OW DOES A CASE GET TO THE Supreme Court S UPREME COURT?

Appellant files appeal after District

Court judgment

Three-judge Court of Appeals panel hears oral arguments Chief Justice Appointed Chief 2010

Court of Appeals issues opinion

Parties petition Supreme Court for Justice Alan C. Page Justice G. Barry Anderson further review Elected 1992 Appointed 2004

At least three justices agree to accept the appeal

Justice Christopher J. Dietzen Justice David R. Stras Supreme Court arguments are Appointed 2008 Appointed 2010 scheduled

Minnesota Supreme Court

Minnesota Judicial Center 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155 Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright Justice David L. Lillehaug Appointed 2012 Appointed 2013 Hours 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Monday—Friday www.mncourts.gov