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    Minnesota DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard

    Which Minnesota court hears a first-offense DWI case, what happens at each stage, and the ZIP codes and counties each courthouse covers.

    How Minnesota DWI courts are organised

    A DWI charge in Minnesota is prosecuted in the District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.

    Misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony DWI are all heard in Minnesota District Court, the state's unified trial court; felony DWI is typically a fourth offense within ten years or a case with aggravating factors. Appeals go to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, with further review by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

    The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at mncourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.

    Minnesota judiciary — court directory

    Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.

    MN driver-licensing agency

    The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.

    What happens at each stage in Minnesota

    A DWI case in Minnesota is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 30 days of arrest.

    1. 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DWI under Minn. Stat. § 169A.20 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Minnesota's implied-consent section, Minn. Stat. § 169A.51. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
    2. 2Licence action — request a hearing within 30 days — Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services opens a licence action as soon as the arrest is reported. You have 30 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
    3. 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. Misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony DWI are all heard in Minnesota District Court, the state's unified trial court; felony DWI is typically a fourth offense within ten years or a case with aggravating factors.
    4. 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Minnesota courts file through the Judicial Branch's eFile and eServe system.
    5. 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DWI conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, jail exposure up to 3 months, a licence suspension of 3 months. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to 90 days jail and a $1,000 fine.
    6. 6Reinstatement — Reinstatement is often through the Ignition Interlock Device Program administered by DPS. Minnesota requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.

    Filing and case handling in Minnesota

    • Minnesota courts file through the Judicial Branch's eFile and eServe system.
    • District Courts are courts of record statewide; Minnesota has a unified trial court.
    • The core offense is Minn. Stat. § 169A.20, driving while impaired.
    • The implied consent law triggers an administrative revocation separate from the criminal charge.

    Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.

    Minnesota ZIP codes covered

    These Minnesota ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

    Browse all Minnesota ZIP codes.

    Counties and cities using these Minnesota resources

    Other Minnesota official resources

    Minnesota Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22Minnesota DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

    Frequently asked questions

    Which court handles a first DWI charge in Minnesota?
    First-offense DWI cases in Minnesota are heard in the District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
    Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Minnesota?
    No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the MN driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 30 days of arrest.