Stutsman County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after Enos Stutsman, Stutsman County, North Dakota, was created in 1843 from Buffalo and Pembina Counties. It has about 21,609 residents and a land area of 2,222 square miles. Its largest city and county seat is Jamestown. The county system in Stutsman County comprises District, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts. These courts ensure that the rights of the people living in Stutsman County are upheld and that they have easy access to justice. Each court has a unique function to perform to meet the county's legal demands.

The Stutsman County District Court, as the highest court in the county, has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases but typically hears matters beyond the jurisdiction of Municipal Courts. It hears all civil and criminal cases, such as torts, libel, slander, breach of contracts, personal injury, professional malpractices, product liabilities, employment disputes, misdemeanors, and felony cases. It also handles juvenile, domestic relations, and probate matters, including paternity, termination of parental rights, divorces, annulments, child support, maintenance, admission of wills, appointment of guardianships, and administration of estates. The Stutsman County Juvenile Court hears juvenile matters, including delinquency, dependency, and emancipation. The Jamestown Municipal Court is the only Municipal Court in Stutsman County. It hears municipal ordinance infractions and traffic offenses within its jurisdictions.

Stutsman County reports an average of 150 crimes annually, representing a crime rate of 1,612 crimes per 100,000 residents. The Stutsman County District Court dispenses about 18,000 cases annually, out of which about 11,000 are traffic offenses, 3,000 criminal cases, and 3,500 civil cases, while the Juvenile Court handles an average of 170 cases annually. The Stutsman County District Court Clerk maintains court records and makes nonconfidential records available to the public in compliance with state and county regulations. Public court records from Stutsman County can be accessed via the District Court Case Search portal. In addition, anyone can visit the courts to inspect or request copies of public court records. However, some records are closed to the public and can only be accessed by approved persons or court orders. These records are made confidential by default under North Dakota laws or by court orders. They include medical and mental health records, juvenile records, person-identifiable information, information about jurors, and adoption records.

In summary, Stutsman County's court system protects the rights of its residents and ensures justice for all. Anyone in the county can approach the courts for justice and expect a just intervention. The county's transparent management of court records also increases the public's confidence in the judicial system. Stutsman County is dedicated to upholding its legal excellence and remaining a model of efficient court administration in North Dakota.