North Dakota Court Records
The North Dakota courts website acts as an informational hub, breaking down the organization and different levels of courts in the state. It walks visitors through what each court actually does, explains which records are open to the public, and shows interested parties exactly how to track them.
North Dakota practices a centrally administered two-level court structure supervised by the state's Supreme Court. The judicial system comprises the appellate court (the North Dakota Supreme Court) and the trial courts (District Courts and Municipal Courts). Generally, the District Courts have general authority over civil and criminal cases beyond the jurisdiction of the Municipal Courts, which have limited jurisdiction and oversee ordinance cases. While the Supreme Court reviews the judgments of the District Courts upon appeals.
For accountability, transparency, public oversight, and integrity of the judiciary, the North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 41 and Section 6, Article XI of the North Dakota Constitution mandate public access to court records, excluding juvenile case files, sealed or expunged records, sensitive information whose public access may infringe privacy laws, and documents restricted by court orders. Nonetheless, while the North Dakota court records website provides access to trial records from courts across the state, it does not substitute as an official repository or offer legal advice.
