Mower County
Mower County is located in southeastern Minnesota as part of the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Austin, the county seat and largest city, is known as the "Spam Capital of the World" due to the Hormel Foods Corporation's headquarters. The county covers an area of approximately 711.3 square miles and has a population of around 40,082 residents as of 2022.
Mower County's judicial system is part of Minnesota's Third Judicial District, with the Mower County District Court as the sole trial court. This court has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. It is organized into specialized divisions to manage its caseload efficiently. They include Civil, Conciliation, Criminal, Family, Juvenile, and Traffic Divisions. The Civil Division handles civil claims, including cases involving amounts not exceeding $15,000. The Probate Division oversees matters such as guardianships, mental health commitments, and probate cases involving wills and estates. Meanwhile, the Conciliation Division focuses on small claims disputes involving amounts under $7,500. The Criminal Division deals with criminal cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors, while the Family Division manages cases involving divorce, child custody, and other domestic relations. On the other hand, the Juvenile Division addresses matters involving minors, including delinquency and dependency. Moreover, the Traffic Division handles traffic violations and related offenses.
The court shares responsibilities with higher courts for appeals and specialized cases, such as habeas corpus and administrative reviews, which may proceed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals or, rarely, the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Mower County public court records are generated from legal proceedings within the county and they establish precedents that can be applied in future cases. Court records document important information such as parties involved, case numbers, dispositions, orders, and filing dates. However, sensitive records, such as juvenile, mental health, adoption, and sealed cases. Mower County District Court records are maintained by the Court Administration Office and are accessible to the public in compliance with Minnesota State Law. These records include:
- Civil case records
- Criminal case records
- Probate and guardianship records
- Juvenile records (non-confidential)
- Family court case records
Residents can access court records through the Minnesota Judicial Branch website or by visiting the Mower County Courthouse during office hours to inspect or request copies. The court can be reached at:
201 1st Street NE
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 437-9465
