Burleigh County, founded in 1873, is now home to about 98,000 residents. According to the US Census Bureau, the county covers a total land area of 1,633 square miles in North Dakota. Its county seat is Bismarck City.

Courts in Burleigh County

Burleigh County’s District Court falls under the South Central Judicial District in North Dakota. Being a general jurisdiction court, the District Court presides over all criminal and civil cases in Burleigh County. Examples of criminal cases heard in this court include misdemeanors, felony offenses, and other less criminal proceedings requiring jury trials. General civil lawsuits involving more than $5,000 in financial disagreements are brought before Burleigh’s District Court. Other civil cases resolved at the court include probate matters, domestic relations, and mental health.

The District Court has two divisions: the Small Claims Division and the Juvenile Division. Juvenile matters like delinquency/deprivation or minors seeking an abortion without parental consent are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Juvenile Division. On the other hand, the Small Claims Division resolves all civil disputes below $5,000.

There are two Municipal Courts in Burleigh County: Bismarck Municipal Court and Lincoln Municipal Court. These courts have limited jurisdiction over all civil and criminal proceedings that do not require jury trials. All municipal ordinance violations are exclusive to Municipal Court judges.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Burleigh County

The District Court Clerk is the official custodian of public court records in Burleigh County. Each Municipal Court in the county also has designated court clerks tasked with maintaining and disseminating court documents. Public court records created by Burleigh 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 visiting court clerks in person. The court clerks also allow record seekers to request via email, mail, or telephone. Public court records are also accessible online via the District Court Case Search. Interested persons can use the online repository maintained by the North Dakota Judiciary to find Burleigh County District Court records created from December 1990 to date. The online portal also provides access to Bismarck Municipal Court records from February 1991 to date and Lincoln Municipal Court records from April 2011 to date.

Types of Public Court Records in Burleigh County

Court record seekers in Burleigh County can access the following types of public documents:

• Civil case files
• Criminal case files
• Traffic citations
• Family records
• Divorce decrees
• Probate case files
• Records showing small claims lawsuits
• Land and Property case files

Confidential Court Records in Burleigh County

North Dakota laws prohibit Burleigh County court clerks from disclosing the following confidential court records:

• Records sealed by individuals
• Medical records
• Substance abuse evaluations
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
• Adoption and paternity records
• Confidential informant records
• Juvenile records
• Trade secrets
• 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 Burleigh County.

Juvenile Delinquency in Burleigh, ND

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Burleigh 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, Burleigh County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Burleigh County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Burleigh County, ND

https://www.nd.gov/

County Seat:	Bismarck
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1873
Total Square Miles:	1,668
2019 Population:	95,030
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02
County Contact:	514 E Thayer Ave County Courthouse Bismarck , ND 58501-4413 http://www.bhttp://www.burleighco.com/eighco.com/

Burleigh County, ND Courts