Mckenzie County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located on the west line of North Dakota, McKenzie County was created by the Dakota Territory legislature on March 9, 1883, but was not organized until April 20, 1905. The Population Estimates Program recorded the estimated population of the county as 14,252 in 2023. Watford City serves as its county seat. The Northwest Judicial District of North Dakota is the only trial court in McKenzie County, and it adjudicates cases and safeguards the residents' legal rights through its divisions.

The McKenzie County District Courthouse has general jurisdiction in civil cases but exclusive jurisdiction in criminal cases. The civil cases heard in the district court may require a jury if the parties request it; although some cases are usually decided by a judge. Examples of such civil cases include child support, child custody, divorce, and civil actions involving less than $25,000. Furthermore, the district court adjudicates magistrate matters and has a magistrate who hears both civil and criminal cases. The magistrate is responsible for trying landlord eviction cases, personal property lawsuits, and small claims cases of $10,000 or less. In criminal cases, the magistrate may issue arrest warrants, accept guilty pleas for minor infractions, and set bail. In addition, the district court holds hearings for misdemeanors and felony offenses such as DUI, theft, assault, and drug possession. Other cases heard by the district court include juvenile delinquency, dependency, abuse, and neglect of children under the age of 18.

Based on the 2021 Annual Report released by the McKenzie County Sheriff's Office, the county experienced the highest crime rate in 2019 compared to subsequent years. The majority of reported cases in McKenzie County are crimes against society. In 2019, there were 687 reported offenses, which decreased to 455 offenses in 2020 and slightly increased to 595 offenses in 2021. The McKenzie County court records are maintained and kept at the District Court Clerk's Office in Watford City. Members of the public can view publicly available court records either by visiting the office of the district court clerk in person or by accessing them online through the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry website. Due to state law or court rule, the following court records are inaccessible to the public:

• Drug and alcohol treatment records
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Paternity records
• Mental health commitment records
• Files in domestic violence protection order

In summary, the McKenzie County courthouse is under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Judicial District, and it is dedicated to administering justice by handling criminal, juvenile, civil, and family, as well as magistrate matters. The public has access to the county's court records electronically and at the courthouse, thereby showcasing the transparency of the court system.