Lake County Criminal Court Records
Lake County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the District Court in Two Harbors, located along Lake Superior's north shore. The 6th Judicial District covers this county, and interim Court Administrator Kathy McFarlane oversees the office at 601 Third Avenue. Records can be searched for free online through MCRO, or you can visit the courthouse in person during regular hours.
Lake County Overview
Lake County District Court
The Lake County courthouse in Two Harbors serves a county that stretches from the Lake Superior shoreline far north into the wilderness. Two Harbors sits about 26 miles northeast of Duluth and is the only real population center in the county. The courthouse handles all criminal case filings for the entire county.
| Address | 601 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (218) 595-5001 |
| Court Administrator | Kathy McFarlane (Interim) |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 6th District |
| Parking | Free surface lot and on-street parking |
Public access terminals are available at the courthouse so you can search MCRO for free during business hours. Self-Help Center services are available remotely by calling (651) 435-6535, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
How to Search Lake County Criminal Records
Minnesota Court Records Online is the free public access system for all court records in the state. Go to publicaccess.courts.state.mn.us to search Lake County records by name or case number. You can find charges, hearing dates, case outcomes, and filing history without any charge.
The full MCRO access portal is also linked from mncourts.gov. Both links take you to the same system. The MCRO database is updated as cases are filed and updated in court. Results are generally current within a day or two.
Lake County is a small county by population. The number of criminal filings each year is lower than in urban counties. That said, the same search tools and rules apply. Not all records are public. Juvenile cases and sealed records do not appear in search results. This is governed by Minn. Stat. Chapter 13.
Note: The court calendar is posted at 7:00 AM each day and updated hourly. Confidential cases are not listed in the public calendar. Check the calendar online before driving to Two Harbors to confirm a hearing is still scheduled.
Requesting Court Record Copies
You can get copies at the courthouse in Two Harbors or by mailing a request. Uncertified copies are free since July 1, 2023. Certified copies cost $14 per document. Bring the case number or a full name when you visit.
Written requests go to the court administrator at 601 Third Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616. State the case number and the document you need. Include a check for $14 if you need a certified copy. See mncourts.gov for full copy request instructions.
Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. If you are not sure what to ask for or how to find a case number before submitting a request, call the court at (218) 595-5001 first.
BCA Criminal History Search
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension maintains a statewide criminal history database. You can search it at dps.mn.gov for $8 per search. Results include conviction data from all Minnesota counties for the past 15 years, which includes Lake County convictions.
BCA results are a conviction summary, not a full case history. Use MCRO to get case-level details. Use BCA if you want a quick look at whether someone has any Minnesota convictions across the whole state.
Lake County Sheriff
The Lake County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for this large, sparsely populated county. Arrest records and jail information are kept by the sheriff separately from the court system. The sheriff's website is at lakecountysheriff.com. Jail information is at co.lake.mn.us. The county government site is at co.lake.mn.us.
Keep in mind that arrest records and court records are separate. An arrest does not always lead to a court filing. After looking up an arrest through the sheriff, check MCRO to see if charges were formally filed in district court.
Expungement and Legal Help in Lake County
If you want to seal a criminal record in Lake County, you may qualify for expungement under Minn. Stat. Chapter 609A. You file the petition at the Lake County District Court in Two Harbors. Eligibility depends on the charge type and how long ago the case ended. Details are at mncourts.gov.
The remote Self-Help Center at (651) 435-6535 is available to help Lake County residents with court forms and questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Court fees are listed at mncourts.gov. Ask about fee waivers if costs are a concern.
Lake County Court Resources
The official court page for Lake County is at mncourts.gov/find-courts/lake. It has current contact information, hours, and local court notices. The county government site is at co.lake.mn.us.
The 6th Judicial District page at mncourts.gov covers Lake County and the five other counties in the district. District resources and shared information are available there.
The image below is from the Minnesota Courts website showing the Lake County District Court directory information.
Use the link above or the search widget on this page to access Lake County criminal court records.
Nearby Counties
Lake County shares borders with St. Louis, Cook, Carlton, and Aitkin counties. All are in the 6th Judicial District.