Brown County Criminal Court Records

Brown County criminal court records are held by the 5th Judicial District Court Administration office in New Ulm, and cover all criminal filings in the county from misdemeanors through felonies. You can search most records at no cost through Minnesota Court Records Online, or visit the courthouse at 14 S State St during business hours to review files and request copies in person.

Brown County District Court

The Brown County District Court is in New Ulm and handles all criminal proceedings filed in the county. Court Administrator Carol Weikle oversees the office, which manages filings, schedules hearings, and maintains records for criminal cases. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Note that payments are not accepted after 2:30 PM on the last working day of the month.

The Brown County court page on mncourts.gov has current contact information, hours, and any temporary schedule changes. Check it before visiting, especially near holidays or during inclement weather.

The court's page on mncourts.gov also includes the Court Administration department page on the county website, which lists additional local contact details.

The court page includes direct links to the MCRO public search portal and information about how to request copies of court documents.

Search Records Through MCRO

Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the free statewide tool for searching Brown County criminal court records. It covers all 87 counties. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. Results include case type, charges, court dates, and final disposition. Documents filed on or after July 1, 2015 are viewable and downloadable at no cost.

The court calendar in MCRO is posted at 7:00 AM daily and updated every hour. This lets you check when a case is set for hearing before making the drive to New Ulm. MCRO requires no account or login to use.

For older records that may not be in the digital system, a written or in-person request to the Court Administration counter is your best option. Staff can confirm whether older files are available and how to get copies.

Copies of Criminal Court Documents

Uncertified copies of court records are free as of July 1, 2023. Certified copies cost $14 each. You can get copies in person, by mail, or through the online copy request system at mncourts.gov/help-topics/copy-request.

In-person requests are processed at the Court Administration counter during business hours. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can also look up cases by name if you don't know the number. Mail requests take additional time, so factor that in if you have a deadline to meet.

A full list of court fees, including copy costs for various document types, is posted at mncourts.gov/help-topics/court-fees/district-court-fees. These fees apply at every Minnesota district court.

eCheck-in for Court Appearances

Brown County Court offers eCheck-in for certain case types. This lets parties check in for court appearances online rather than having to appear at the courthouse in person for specific proceedings. eCheck-in is available for criminal cases, juvenile cases, delinquency cases, and CHIPS (child in need of protection or services) cases.

If you have a scheduled appearance and are not sure whether eCheck-in applies, contact Court Administration at (507) 441-7020 before your court date. Staff can confirm which proceedings qualify and provide instructions for checking in remotely.

This option is especially useful for routine appearances where personal presence is not required by the court. Not all hearings qualify, so confirm eligibility in advance.

BCA Statewide Criminal History

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) runs a separate statewide database of criminal convictions. A BCA search costs $8 and returns conviction records going back 15 years from all Minnesota counties. To search, you need the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Searches are available through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website.

BCA results cover only convictions. Cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or are still pending do not appear. For those, MCRO is the right tool. The BCA is best for a broad statewide conviction check across all counties at once.

Neither MCRO nor the BCA covers federal criminal records. For federal cases filed in U.S. District Court, use the federal PACER system.

Expungement in Brown County

Two paths exist for expunging a criminal record in Minnesota. Automatic expungement under Minn. Stat. 609A.015 applies when certain case outcomes are reached without the need for a petition. Petition-based expungement under Chapter 609A requires filing a formal motion with the court.

An expunged record is sealed from public searches. It will no longer show up in MCRO name searches or most background checks. Law enforcement retains access, and some licensing boards may still see sealed records depending on the circumstances.

To file for expungement in Brown County, submit a petition to Court Administration at 14 S State St in New Ulm. The Minnesota Courts website at mncourts.gov/help-topics/criminal-expungement has forms, guides, and a step-by-step overview of the process. Allow several months for the petition to be processed and scheduled for a hearing.

Public Access and Privacy Rules

Access to criminal court records in Brown County is governed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. Most criminal court records are public once a case is filed. Some portions of a record, such as records involving juveniles or protected witnesses, are not available to the public.

Public access terminals are at the courthouse. They allow you to use MCRO and view digital court records on-site at no cost. No appointment is needed to use a public terminal during regular business hours.

If a record is restricted or sealed, Court Administration can tell you that a restriction exists, even if they cannot share the underlying content. That way you know a record exists but is not publicly accessible, rather than thinking no record exists at all.

The Brown County website and the alternate county site both link to key county offices and services. Either can help you find the right department for your records request.

Nearby Counties

Brown County shares borders with four other southwest Minnesota counties, each part of the 5th Judicial District.