Minnesota

The state of Minnesota funds and administers all indigent defense services in adult criminal trials. A state commission is responsible for providing oversight of services statewide. 

The state of Minnesota funds and administers all indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate courts. A state commission is responsible for providing oversight of services statewide.

  • 86 Counties State Funded

  • 1 County Primarily State Funded

  • 87 Counties State Administered

  • 87 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority

  • 87 Counties State Funded

  • 87 Counties State Administered

  • 87 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority

The state of Minnesota funds almost all indigent defense statewide and administers services through a regionalized system: in each of the state’s ten judicial districts, a chief district public defender delivers services through public defender offices employing full-time and part-time attorneys. Chief public defenders may contract with private attorneys to handle excessive conflicts and as needed. Separate from the regionalized system, the state contracts with non-profit public defender corporations. The corporations provide services to Native American populations and may supplement services in urban areas. One county, Hennepin County, funds a small number of public defender office positions.

The Minnesota Board of Public Defense is responsible for providing oversight of indigent defense services statewide. The state of Minnesota also funds and administers appellate representation statewide. The state supreme court and governor appoint the board’s nine members. The board in turn appoints a state public defender, the ten chief district public defenders, and chief appellate defender. The state public defender runs daily operations, sets standards, supervises all ten districts, and appellate office.

The state-funded Minnesota Board of Public Defense (MBPD) is responsible for providing all indigent defense services in adult appeals. The MBPD appellate office, staffed with public defenders, provides services. A chief appellate public defender manages the office.

The MBPD board is responsible for providing oversight of indigent defense services statewide. The state supreme court and governor appoint the board’s nine members. The board in turn appoints a state public defender as well as the chief appellate public defender. The state public defender runs daily operations, sets standards, and supervises the chief appellate defender. MBPD also provides indigent defense services for trials.

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