The Minnesota Supreme Court has mandated the use of the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System (MNDES) for submitting all electronic exhibits, including documents, photographs, audio files, and video files. This order will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Starting from this date, all electronic exhibits must be submitted using MNDES. Exceptions are possible if a party requests and the presiding judge allows an alternative submission method for valid reasons. Exhibits containing sexual content or nudity, as defined in Public Access Rule 4, subd. 1(s), or live links to such content must not be submitted through MNDES but via conventional methods.
Only digital exhibit files listed on the MNDES Acceptable File Type List can be submitted. Parties must make reasonable efforts to convert any digital exhibit into a format included in this list. If permission is granted to submit an exhibit outside of MNDES, it is the responsibility of the submitting party to ensure that a proprietary player and/or instructions necessary for public access and appellate review are provided.
This new order is part of an amendment to Rule 26.03, subd. 20(1) of the Rules of Criminal Procedure by the Supreme Court. It requires courts to allow received audio and video exhibits into jury deliberation rooms unless deemed infeasible or prejudicial following an objection by a party. In civil cases, sending such exhibits into deliberation rooms remains optional.
Court staff will track all exhibits submitted via MNDES and provide them electronically in appeal cases. Court Administration may continue providing parties involved in district court cases or appeals with access to evidentiary exhibits through email or other electronic means but only offer public access if expressly approved by the presiding judge.
For more details on these provisions, please refer to the Supreme Court's August 30, 2024 order.
To assist with transitioning to MNDES, comprehensive training materials and resources are available on the Evidence and Exhibits page of the Minnesota Judicial Branch website under the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System tab. For technical inquiries about MNDES, contact their customer support team.