Williams County is a land area of more than 2,000 square miles in the western part of North Dakota. According to the US Census Bureau, it has more than 49,000 residents, making it the fifth most populous county in the state. The county seat is the City of Williston.

Courts in Williams County

The Northwest Judicial District Court in North Dakota exercises general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases in Williams County. Examples of criminal cases heard in this court include misdemeanors, felony offenses, and other lesser criminal proceedings requiring jury trials. The District Court judge also handles general civil lawsuits involving more than $5,000 in financial disputes. Aggrieved persons may approach the District Court to resolve mental health cases, probate matters, and domestic relations. The juvenile division of the District Court handles all juvenile delinquency matters, while the small claims division presides over disputes involving less than $5,000 in financial settlements.

There are seven Municipal Courts in Williams County. These courts preside over certain civil and criminal proceedings that do not require jury trials. All municipal ordinance violations are exclusive to Williams County Municipal Court judges.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Williams County

The District Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining public court records in Williams County. Municipal Courts also have court clerks who are official court record custodians for documents filed within their jurisdiction. Court records typically contain any of the following information:

• Court transcripts
• Case dockets
• Pretrial conference orders
• Legal Memoranda
• Interrogatories
• Evidence lists
• Summons
• Involved parties’ names
• Evidence and exhibits
• Plea agreements
• Motions and responses
• Warrants and court injunctions
• Court sentences

Court clerks in Williams County grant access to in-person, mail, email, and phone requests for public court records. On the other hand, the North Dakota Judiciary provides online access to court records through the District Court Case Search. Court records filed in Williams County District Court from January 1998 till date are available on the state’s online portal. Requesters can also use the online portal to find court cases filed in Williston Municipal Court from November 2005 till date.

Types of Public Court Records in Williams County

The following court records are publicly accessible in Williams County:

• Civil records
• Traffic citations
• Criminal court records
• Limited family case files
• Probate records
• Small claims lawsuit records

Confidential Court Records in Williams County

Confidential court records in Williams County include the following:

• Sealed records
• Medical records
• Mental health records
• Paternity case files
• Adoptions records
• Juvenile records
• Records involving drug abuse evaluations
• Records involving ongoing investigations
• Confidential informant details
• Confidential commercial information and trade secrets
• Personal identifying information such as SSNs (Social Security Numbers), banking details, and passport numbers
• Financial information

Some confidential records are removed from public court records, and others are restricted to certain individuals. Recordholders and parties involved in the case may obtain or view confidential records by visiting courthouses in Williams County.

Juvenile Delinquency in Williams, ND

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

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

Government of Williams County, ND

https://www.nd.gov/

County Seat:	Williston
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1890
Total Square Miles:	2,148
2019 Population:	33,349
Persons/Square Mile:	0.06
County Contact:	PO BOX 2047 County Courthouse Williston , ND 58802-2047 http://www.williamsnd.com

Williams County, ND Courts