The Minnesota Court of Appeals has initiated the live broadcasting of oral arguments, starting with the commencement of its 2023-24 term on September 12. This move aligns with the practices of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Oral arguments held at the Minnesota Judicial Center and other courtrooms across greater Minnesota will be accessible through livestreams on the Court of Appeals page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. These broadcasts are facilitated by ZoomGov and can be found linked in the court calendar under the “Calendar” tab.
A survey conducted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch indicates strong support from litigants, attorneys, and the public for remote viewing options. Miriam Friesen, court administrator for the Court of Appeals, stated, “This is a great way to expand access to the court’s public hearings, including by providing a more flexible option for litigants to observe oral argument in their appeal.” She added that livestreaming provides insight into how judges handle complex legal issues during appeals.
Since its establishment in 1983, the Court of Appeals reviews over 2,000 decisions annually from trial courts, state agencies, and local governments. It primarily serves as an error-correcting body while allowing the Minnesota Supreme Court to focus on constitutional and public policy matters.
To facilitate timely justice and reduce burdens associated with accessing appellate systems, panels comprising three judges travel throughout Minnesota to conduct oral hearings. By law, decisions must be issued within 90 days following oral arguments or within 90 days after a scheduled conference date if no oral argument occurs. This timeline is noted as being among the shortest for any appellate court in the United States.
The Court of Appeals renders final judgments in approximately 95% of cases each year. Only about five percent proceed to further review by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Further details about the Court of Appeals can be found on its page within the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.