The Minnesota Judicial Branch will implement a new digital system for court evidence starting January 1, 2025. The Minnesota Digital Exhibit System (MNDES) will become mandatory for all court participants to upload hearing and trial exhibits digitally.
MNDES, tested in a pilot program since 2021, allows attorneys and self-represented individuals to upload evidence from any location. This initiative follows a Supreme Court ruling requiring the use of MNDES for both virtual and in-person hearings.
Chief Justice Natalie Hudson stated, "Over the past three years, we have found that MNDES provides a secure and consistent means for people to manage hearing and trial exhibits." She added, "Just as we modernized electronic court filings, MNDES modernizes how we manage evidence in hearings."
The system supports various evidence formats such as audio, video, images, and documents. While the exhibits are stored securely and not publicly accessible, judges and juries can view them during court proceedings.
Additional resources like instructional documents and FAQs are available on the Minnesota Judicial Branch's website under the MNDES section.