Minneapolis has two main courthouses a few blocks apart downtown, and they handle entirely different kinds of cases. The Hennepin County Government Center at 300 South Sixth Street handles state and local matters. The Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse at 300 South Fourth Street handles federal cases. Knowing which Minneapolis courthouse you need, and what the building expects of you once you walk in, saves time on what is usually already a stressful day.
Which Courthouse Handles Your Case
The Hennepin County Government Center houses the Fourth Judicial District.1Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fourth Judicial District If your case involves family law, traffic violations, criminal charges under state law, probate, or a civil dispute under Minnesota statutes, this is your building.
The Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse is for anything under federal jurisdiction: federal criminal charges, bankruptcy filings, and civil lawsuits between parties from different states where the amount in dispute exceeds $75,000. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota operates out of this building in Suite 301.2United States Bankruptcy Court District of Minnesota. Minneapolis
You May Not Need to Appear in Person
Minnesota’s district courts adopted a statewide remote hearing framework in July 2024 that lets judges hold certain proceedings by video or phone. Your hearing notice will tell you whether to appear in person or join remotely. If it doesn’t say, call the court.3Minnesota Judicial Branch. Remote Hearing Information
Federal court is more restrictive. Criminal proceedings generally have no remote public access. For civil and bankruptcy non-trial proceedings with no testifying witness, judges may allow live remote audio for public listeners at their discretion.4United States Courts. Remote Public Access to Proceedings
Hennepin County Government Center
The address is 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The court’s help line is (612) 348-6000, staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.5Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hennepin County District Court If a court notice confuses you, that number is the fastest way to sort it out.
Filing and Records
The civil filing counter is on the third floor, where staff can help you file documents in person.6Minnesota Judicial Branch. Civil Court – Hennepin County District Court For copies of court records, the District Court Records Center on the B-Level provides in-person access.
You can also search from home through Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO), which lets you look up cases by name, case number, citation number, or attorney. MCRO includes a hearing search for upcoming court dates and a judgment search for docketed money judgments.7Minnesota Judicial Branch. Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
Filing Fees
Filing a general civil complaint in Hennepin County costs $322 as of July 1, 2025. Name changes, implied consent matters, administrative appeals, and tax court regular division cases carry the same fee. A jury trial demand for a removal appeal runs $422. Tax court small claims division filings cost $162.8Minnesota Judicial Branch. Fees – Hennepin County District Court
Help If You Are Representing Yourself
The Hennepin County Self-Help Center on level A-20 is worth a stop. Staff give one-on-one help with court procedures, review completed forms, and refer you to community legal resources. The center also hosts volunteer attorney clinics where you can get brief legal advice at no cost. Help is available in person, by phone, by email, or by appointment, and bilingual staff or a telephone interpreter service can assist if English is not your first language.9Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hennepin County Self-Help Center Staff cannot represent you or give ongoing legal advice. For getting your paperwork right before you file, though, it is one of the best free resources available.
Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse
The federal courthouse is at 300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415, a few blocks from the state courthouse.10United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. About the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota The U.S. District Court Clerk’s office is in Suite 202, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The general phone number is (612) 664-5000.11United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Contact Information
Most federal court records are available online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) at $0.10 per page.12PACER: Federal Court Records. PACER Pricing: How Fees Work If your charges for the quarter come to $30 or less, the fees are waived entirely.13PACER: Federal Court Records. Public Access to Court Electronic Records A single case lookup almost always falls under that threshold.
Before You Go
Security
Both courthouses require all visitors to pass through a metal detector and have bags scanned. Lines build up in the morning, so arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your hearing. Weapons of any kind are prohibited, including firearms and knives. At the federal courthouse, anything illegal will be confiscated on the spot.14U.S. Marshals Service. What To Expect When Visiting a Courthouse
Phones and Electronics
The two buildings treat electronics very differently, and the federal rule catches people off guard.
At the Hennepin County Government Center, you can bring your phone in. Recording, photography, and phone use inside courtrooms is restricted, but you can use your device in hallways and common areas.
At the federal courthouse, under a General Order dated January 9, 2026, all visitors must turn off their electronic devices at the entrance and place them in a locked pouch provided by the U.S. Marshals. The pouch stays with you, but you cannot open it or tamper with it while inside. On the way out, security unlocks the pouch and hands your device back. Tampering can carry criminal penalties, including fines and up to 10 years of imprisonment. Attorneys, court employees, credentialed media, seated jurors, and people with implanted medical sensors that send alerts to a phone are exempt.15United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Personal Electronic Devices for Visitors to the District of Minnesota
What to Wear
Minnesota court rules call for “appropriate courtroom clothing” without spelling out specifics. The practical rule is to dress as you would for a job interview. Avoid shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, clothing with offensive graphics, and anything that exposes undergarments. Federal court tends to be more formal than state court, but neither building will turn you away for wearing jeans and a collared shirt. Judges notice effort more than wardrobe.
Parking and Transit
Driving to either courthouse means paying for a downtown ramp. Near the Government Center, options include the Government Center Garage at 545 Fifth Avenue South and the Fifth Avenue Ramp at 425 South Sixth Street. Near the federal courthouse, the Jerry Haaf Memorial Ramp at 424 South Fourth Street is a short walk. Street parking downtown is metered and time-limited, which makes it a poor choice for anything longer than a quick filing.
Public transit is often easier. The METRO Green Line light rail stops at Government Plaza station, about a nine-minute walk from the Government Center. Metro Transit buses also serve the downtown courthouse area. If your hearing could run long or get continued, transit avoids an expired meter or a ramp bill that climbs by the hour.
Interpreters and Disability Accommodations
The Minnesota Judicial Branch’s Court Interpreter Program provides interpreters for people who do not speak English or who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you need one for a state court hearing, contact the court as early as possible. The Hennepin County Self-Help Center can also help through bilingual staff or a telephone-based interpreter service.9Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hennepin County Self-Help Center
At the federal courthouse, courtroom deputies and jury coordinators are the designated access coordinators. If you need assistive listening technology, CART (real-time captioning), or an American Sign Language interpreter for a proceeding, contact the presiding judge’s courtroom deputy as far in advance as possible. If you have been called for jury duty and need accommodations, contact the jury coordinator. Requests can be made by phone, fax, email, in writing, or in person.16United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Communication Disabilities – District of Minnesota
If You Are Called for Jury Duty
Hennepin County jurors are paid $20 per day of service plus $0.54 per mile for the round trip between home and the courthouse.17Minnesota House of Representatives. State Jury Service That won’t cover a full day of lost wages for most people, but Minnesota employers cannot fire or penalize you for responding to a summons.
Federal jurors receive $50 per day plus reimbursement for daily travel.18United States Courts. Fees of Jurors and Commissioners Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request If you need to request an excuse or deferral, submit it in writing as soon as you receive the summons. Medical conditions and being over 70 are common grounds for a permanent excuse. Work schedules, school, and travel conflicts are typically handled as deferrals to a later service period. And remember: at the federal courthouse, your phone goes in a locked pouch for each day you serve, so plan accordingly.