Walsh County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Founded in 1881 from parts of Grand Forks County and Pembina County, Walsh County covers 1,294 square miles of the northeast region of North Dakota. Named for George H. Walsh who was a politician and newspaperman in Grand Forks. The county has a population of approximately 10,553 residents. Grafton is the county seat, and the city also houses the Walsh County Courthouse, which serves as the venue for adjudicating several legal matters. In addition to the District Court, the county's court structure includes the Municipal Court.

The Walsh County is part of North Dakota's Northeast Judicial District and its District Court, located in Grafton, serves as the main court for most legal proceedings in the county. The court exercises exclusive authority in criminal felony and misdemeanor cases and general jurisdiction over civil cases. Additionally, the District Court acts as the Juvenile Court within the county, handling matters involving minors alleged to be unruly, delinquent, or facing neglect or lack of adequate care. This court's diverse caseload includes domestic relations cases like divorces, child custody, and support. Additionally, the Municipal Court in Grafton handles cases related to misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and local ordinance violations.

In 2023, North Dakota reported a total of seven violent crimes and 45 property crimes within the boundaries of Walsh County. Based on North Dakota's 2023 Annual Report, more than 50% of the cases filed at the state's Northeast District Court, like Walsh County District Court, are traffic cases. Moreover, about 18% of the cases finalized by the District Court were civil matters, while 21% of the total dispositions were criminal cases. The court also handled about 800 juvenile cases during the year. The Clerk of the District Court ensures that all case documents/information, from filings to dispositions, are accurately preserved and kept up to date. These records are accessible to the public at the Clerk's Office or online. However, the Clerk withholds court records with private or sensitive information from public view. These typically involve but are not limited to juvenile, adoption, custodial, mental health, and medical matters.

In summary, the court system in Walsh County consists of the District Court and the Municipal Court, both of which are located in the city of Grafton. These courts ensure fair and equitable legal resolution of different matters under their jurisdiction. They also perform other judicial services like providing court records or information to members of the public.