Minnesota Agencies

The Minnesota Judicial Council is the administrative policy-making authority for the Minnesota Judicial Branch. The purpose of the Council is to govern the Judicial Branch through the establishment and monitoring of administrative policies designed to achieve an accessible, fair and, timely system of justice statewide, and to ensure that the Judicial Branch functions as an independent and accountable branch of government.

The Minnesota Judicial Council is composed of 25 members. Fourteen are members by virtue of their office:

• The Chief Justice, who serves as Chair
• The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
• The Chief Judges of the Judicial Districts (10) 
• The Minnesota District Judges Association President
• The State Court Administrator (non-voting member)

Eleven members are appointed. Terms for appointed members are three years:

• One Associate Justice, appointed by the Chief Justice
• Five at-large judges appointed by the Chief Justice, three of whom must be district court judges
• One at-large appointment from within the Judicial Branch, by the Chief Justice (non-voting member)
• Three Judicial District Administrators chosen by the Judicial District Administrators (non-voting member)
• One Court Administrator chosen by the Court Administrators (non-voting member)