Page 36 - SAMPLE LINKEDLAW DESKBOOK

SECTION 1.2 MINNESOTA STATE DISTRICT COURT CIVIL PRACTICE DESKBOOK

• Probate Court Rules.

3A DaviD F. HeRR, Minn. PRaC., Gen. RuleS oF PRaC. ann. Intro (2008 ed.).
SAMPLE
In 1989, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed the Task Force on Uniform Local Rules to abolish all the
different local rules and reconcile all other rules. Id. The work of the Task Force resulted in the Minnesota General
Rules of Practice.

1. Scope of Minnesota General Rules of Practice

The Minnesota General Rules of Practice apply to all state trial courts and are divided into separate sec-
tions or titles for:

Title I: Rules Applicable to All Court Proceedings – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 1–14

Title II: Rules Governing Civil Actions – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 101–146

Title III: Registration of Land Titles – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 201–222

Title IV: Rules of Family Court Procedure – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 301–378

Title V: Probate Rules – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 401–418

Title VI: Conciliation Court Rules – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 501–525
Title VII: Housing Court Rules – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 601–612

Title VIII: Rules Relating to Criminal Matters – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 701–708

Title IX: Jury Management Rules – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 801–814

Title X: Rules of Guardian Ad Litem Procedure – Minn. Gen. R. PRaC. 901–907

Special Rules for the Pilot Expedited Civil Litigation Track

While the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure provide broad guidance for attorneys and judges on the
procedural boundaries of a civil lawsuit, the Minnesota General Rules of Practice drill down to provide more detail
on the “when” and “how” (e.g., how to prepare and when to file and serve a motion). Well-prepared lawyers should
be familiar with both and should understand the intersection and overlap of the Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure
and the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. Chapters 2 through 22 of this Deskbook, along with the chart in
Appendix A, infra, provide that information.

C. Special Rules of Practice for the District Courts

Of the 10 judicial districts in Minnesota, the Second (Ramsey County) and Fourth (Hennepin County)
Judicial Districts have retained their own special rules applicable to civil practice. Rule 5 of the Special Rules of
Practice for the Second Judicial District deals specifically with scheduling a joint disposition conference prior to a
court-ordered pretrial conference while Rule 25 sets out the system and procedure for arbitrations and mediations
from initiation of the proceedings, to selection of a neutral, and for the hearing itself. Rule 5 of the Special Rules of
the Fourth Judicial District similarly outlines arbitration procedures in that district.

Updated 2020 1-2