Morton County was established in 1873 in North Dakota. It is the sixth most populous county in the state, with up to 33,000 residents. Morton County has a total land area of 1,926 square miles. Its county seat is the City of Mandan. Other popular cities in the county include Almont, Hebron, and Flasher.

Courts in Morton County

The District Court in Morton County is within North Dakota’s South Central Judicial District. It is a general jurisdiction court tasked with handling all criminal and civil cases in Morton County. Examples of criminal trials held in this court include felony-related crimes, misdemeanors, and other lesser offenses requiring jury trials. County residents often bring general civil lawsuits involving $5,000 or more in financial disputes before Morton’s District Court. The District Court judge also handles probate matters, domestic violence cases, and mental health issues.

Morton County’s District Court has two divisions: the Juvenile and Small Claims Divisions. The Juvenile Division of the District Court hears all legal matters involving delinquency/deprivation or minors seeking an abortion without parental consent. Conversely, the Small Claims Division handles all civil disputes that do not exceed $5,000. Municipal Courts in Morton County have limited jurisdiction over certain criminal trials and civil lawsuits that do not require jury trials. These courts typically handle all municipal ordinance violations in the county.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Morton County

Interested persons can find public court records at the District Court Clerk’s Office in Morton County. Morton’s District Court Clerk is tasked with maintaining the following court records:

• Case Dockets
• Names of Involved Parties
• Transcripts
• Affidavits of Witnesses
• Plea Deals
• Jury Lists
• Depositions
• Court Judgements
• Case filings such as Complaints, Petitions, Answers, and Briefs
• Court Orders
• Indictments
• Verdicts
• Warrants
• Sentencing Reports
• Appeals

To obtain these records, requesters can visit court clerks in person or make phone, email, or mail requests. Morton’s court records are also available online via North Dakota’s Case Search portal. Note that the online repository provides access to court records filed in Morton County District Court from November 1993 to date. Requesters may also look up the statewide repository to view court records filed in Mandan Municipal Court. Access to records from other municipal courts in Morton County is possible by locating and visiting the courthouse in person.

Types of Public Court Records in Morton County

The following court records in Morton County are available for public inspection:

• Traffic court records
• Probate records
• Civil records
• Property liens
• Criminal records
• Limited family records

Confidential Court Records in Morton County

Morton County court clerks do not provide public access to court records that contain sensitive information or are confidential under state and federal laws. Examples of these records, listed under North Dakota Court Rules, include:

• Sealed records
• Medical records
• Mental health records
• Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
• Juvenile records
• Adoption and paternity records
• Confidential commercial information, such as trade secrets
• Social Security numbers
• Financial information such as credit card details
• Drug abuse records

Juvenile Delinquency in Morton, ND

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

Government of Morton County, ND

https://www.nd.gov/

County Seat:	Mandan
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1873
Total Square Miles:	1,945
2019 Population:	30,796
Persons/Square Mile:	0.06
County Contact:	210 2nd Ave NW County Courthouse Mandan , ND 58554-3124 http://www.co.morton.nd.us

Morton County, ND Courts