Bloomington Court Docket Records

Bloomington court docket records are handled through the Hennepin County District Court, which serves as the Fourth Judicial District courthouse for all of Hennepin County. You can search Bloomington court dockets online for free through Minnesota Court Records Online, or go to the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis to request case files and certified copies of filed documents.

Which Court Handles Bloomington Cases

Bloomington does not have a separate municipal court. All court cases involving Bloomington residents are filed and heard in the Hennepin County District Court, part of the Fourth Judicial District. The main courthouse is the Hennepin County Government Center at 300 S 6th Street in downtown Minneapolis. The court administrator is Sara Gonsalves. This district is the largest in Minnesota, processing more than 95,000 cases per year across civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and probate divisions.

Bloomington has its own City Attorney's Office, but that office prosecutes non-felony cases in the Hennepin County District Court, not in a separate local court. The City Attorney, Melissa Manderschied, handles misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, DWI cases, and traffic violations for Bloomington. All of those cases still end up as docket entries in the Hennepin County system. The City Attorney's Office is located at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431, phone (952) 563-8700.

For Bloomington cases specifically, the most convenient in-person access point may be the Records Center at the Government Center, though the Brookdale location in nearby Brooklyn Center is an option for residents in the north part of the metro.

Searching Bloomington Court Docket Records

The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) portal is the primary tool for searching Bloomington court dockets. It is free, does not require registration, and covers all 87 Minnesota counties. Search by person name, business name, attorney name, case number, or citation number. MCRO returns results showing case type, filing date, judge assignment, current status, and the full register of actions for each case. There is no limit on how many searches you can run.

The portal includes four search tools. Use Case Search to look up a specific person or case and review the docket entries. Use Document Search to pull filed documents by case number. Use Hearing Search to see scheduled court dates. Use Judgment Search to find money judgments by debtor name. All four tools update in real time and pull from the same statewide database.

The image below is from the Bloomington City Attorney's Office page at bloomingtonmn.gov/atty/city-attorneys-office.

The City Attorney's Office page explains the scope of local prosecution for Bloomington cases, all of which are heard in Hennepin County District Court and appear on the public court docket.

Bloomington Court Docket Records Content

Court docket records for Bloomington cases follow the same structure as all Hennepin County District Court filings. Each case has a register of actions that lists every event in the case in the order it happened. This includes filings, notices, motions, hearing dates, orders, and the final judgment or disposition. The register is the primary public document showing the history of any court case. You can view it through MCRO or at the courthouse terminals.

Criminal docket entries for Bloomington cases include the charges filed, bail amounts set, hearing dates, plea entries, and sentencing details if the case concluded. Civil docket entries cover the initial complaint, response filings, motions, court rulings, and any money judgments entered. Family cases may have restricted docket entries depending on the nature of the matter. Juvenile records are generally withheld from public access under Minnesota law.

Documents filed in Bloomington cases on or after July 1, 2015 may be available to download through MCRO's document search. Older filings from before that date have limited electronic availability, though the docket register often still appears. Sealed records and cases that were expunged under Minnesota Statute 609A will not show up in public searches.

Privacy rules under Minnesota Statute 13.84 govern what court services data is classified as public versus private. Party street addresses are not displayed in MCRO results even when other case information is visible.

Fees for Bloomington Court Records

Online access to Bloomington court dockets through MCRO is free. No account is needed, and there is no per-search charge. Since July 1, 2023, uncertified copies of court documents have been free statewide. You can view and download documents directly from MCRO at no cost for public case types.

Certified copies of documents from Bloomington cases cost $14.00 per document under Minnesota Statute 357.31. Exemplified and certified copies cost $28.00. Fax transmission costs $25.00 per 50 pages. Copies of reports are $5.00 for the first 50 pages. These fees apply at the Hennepin County Records Center and for mail requests.

For in-person requests, bring the case number or party name and payment by check or money order made out to the court administrator. Mail requests go to: 4th District Court Records Center, 300 South 6th Street, #SK-0260, Minneapolis, MN 55487-0332.

The Minnesota court fees page has the full statewide schedule for all charges across district courts.

Legal Resources for Bloomington Residents

Bloomington residents have access to the same legal aid and self-help resources that serve all of Hennepin County. The Fourth District self-help center is at Government Center Level A-20 in Minneapolis. Staff there can help you find forms, understand court procedures, and locate other resources. They do not give legal advice or represent parties in court.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid serves the entire metro area and handles civil matters including family law, housing, and public benefits. The Volunteer Lawyers Network provides free help for civil cases. The Hennepin County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. LawHelpMN at lawhelpmn.org offers self-help guides and form instructions for common case types filed in district court.

Court fines from Bloomington cases can be paid online at the Minnesota courts fine payment portal. Have your case number or citation number ready. For background checks, use the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at chs.state.mn.us rather than MCRO.

The image below shows the Hennepin County court page at mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin.

This page lists all court divisions, locations, and contact details for the Fourth Judicial District, which handles all Bloomington court cases.

Nearby Cities with Court Docket Pages

Bloomington is in the southern metro area of Hennepin County. Several nearby cities also have court docket pages on this site, all part of the same Fourth Judicial District or neighboring districts.

All Bloomington court docket records are filed through Hennepin County District Court, part of Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District.