Scott County
Scott County was established on March 5, 1853, and named in honor of General Winfield Scott, who was the Commanding General of the United States Army at the time. It has a land area of approximately 356 square miles and an estimated population of 155,814 as of 2023, representing a 3.2% population growth over the past three years.
Scott County's trial court system is a part of Minnesota's First Judicial District and comprises a sole District Court that has original jurisdiction in all civil, family, probate, juvenile, criminal, and traffic cases filed in the county. Examples of cases commonly handled by this court include misdemeanor and felony proceedings, personal injury claims, contract disputes, small claims cases of $15,000 or less, traffic violations, divorces, child support, juvenile delinquency matters, and guardianship. Scott County also operates Treatment Courts that focus on reducing recidivism by utilizing stakeholder collaborations and intensive, court-monitored programs to create rehabilitation plans for certain offenders.
Scott County public court records refer to any documented information generated by or collected in relation to court activities in the county. These include but are not limited to, court orders, sworn affidavits, case files, subpoenas, summonses, trial transcripts, judgments, verdicts, and settlement agreements. The Scott County Court Administrator is the custodian of these records and is responsible for maintaining them and ensuring that they are accessible to interested parties per relevant court records public access rules.
The Scott County Court Administrator provides electronic access to the county's court records via public access terminals at the Scott County Justice Center. You can also access these records remotely through the Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal. However, be aware that only documents for cases filed from 2014 to date are available online; you will need to visit the courthouse in person to access pre-2014 court records. You may also be required to provide a valid photo ID and pay a copy fee (determined by the nature of your request) to obtain copies of Scott County court records, regardless of whether you are requesting these records electronically or in person.
