Barnes County was founded in 1872 in North Dakota. It was first named Burbank County in 1872 but renamed Barnes in 1874. According to the US Census Bureau, about 10,000 people reside in the county, which has a total land area of 1,492 square miles. Barnes’ county seat is Valley City.

Courts in Barnes County

Barnes County’s District Court falls under the South-East Judicial District in North Dakota. It is a general jurisdiction court responsible for handling all criminal and civil cases in Barnes County. Some of the criminal proceedings that take place in this court include felony offenses, misdemeanors, and other less criminal trials requiring jury trials. Residents approach the court to resolve all general civil lawsuits involving more than $5,000 in financial disagreements. Other civil cases resolved at the court include probate matters, domestic relations, and mental health.

The District Court has two divisions: the Juvenile and Small Claims Divisions. Residents visit the Juvenile Division to resolve legal matters involving juvenile delinquency/deprivation or minors seeking an abortion without parental consent. Conversely, the Small Claims Division resolves all civil disputes below $5,000. The Valley City Municipal Court has limited jurisdiction over all civil and criminal proceedings that do not require jury trials. All ordinance violations are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Municipal Court judge.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Barnes County

In Barnes County, the Clerk of District Court serves as the official custodian of public court records. There is also a court clerk in the Valley City Municipal Court tasked with maintaining and disseminating court documents created in the court. Public court records created by Barnes County court clerks include the following:

• Court transcripts
• Case dockets
• Summons
• Involved parties’ names
• Evidence and exhibits
• Plea bargains
• Motions and responses
• Warrants and court injunctions
• Court sentences

Requesters can obtain these records by contacting court clerks in person. Alternatively, they can access public court records online via the District Court Case Search. The online repository maintained by the North Dakota Judiciary shows Barnes County District Court records created from March 1997 to date. It also provides access to Valley City Municipal Court records from April 2010 to date.

Types of Public Court Records in Barnes County

Interested parties can access the following types of public documents in Barnes County:

• Civil case files show the following:
  • Property Damage
  • Contract Collections
  • Quiet Title
  • Malpractice
  • Eviction cases
  • Personal Injury
  • Foreclosures
• Criminal case files showing;
  • Felony trials
  • Misdemeanors
  • Infractions
  • Administrative orders
  • Traffic citations
• Probate case files
  • Formal & informal Probate
  • Conservatorships
  • Guardianships
  • Heirships

Confidential Court Records in Barnes County

Confidential court records are not open to the public. The following are confidential court records under North Dakota laws:

• Sealed and expunged records
• Substance abuse evaluations
• Medical records
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
• Adoption and paternity records
• Confidential informant records
• Juvenile records
• Commercial information that is confidential
• Social Security numbers
• Financial information
• Records related to individuals’ mental health

These records are not open to the public due to personal privacy violations and other statutory protections. Interested persons can file court motions to access confidential court records in Barnes County.

Juvenile Delinquency in Barnes, ND

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Barnes County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in North Dakota often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

A lot of counties, including, Barnes County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Barnes County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Barnes County, ND

https://www.nd.gov/

County Seat:	Valley City
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1875
Total Square Miles:	1,513
2019 Population:	10,734
Persons/Square Mile:	0.14
County Contact:	230 4Th St Nw County Courthouse Valley City , ND 58072-2947 http://www.co.barnes.nd.us

Barnes County, ND Courts