Know Your Rights: Missed Court Date in Minnesota

If you missed a court date in Minnesota, the judge most likely issued a bench warrant for your arrest. Do not panic. You have options, and acting quickly gives you the best chance of a good outcome.

Your Rights

1. Calling the court will not get you arrested. Court staff will give you information about your case and tell you what to do next. They handle missed court dates regularly.

2. You can often resolve a warrant without being arrested. By appearing at the courthouse voluntarily, you may be able to see the judge and have the warrant cleared without going to jail.

3. You have the right to a lawyer. If you are facing criminal charges and cannot afford an attorney, you may qualify for a free public defender.

4. A bench warrant does not expire. The warrant stays active until you resolve it. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to be arrested at a traffic stop, at home, or at work.

5. A genuine emergency may excuse your absence. If you missed court because of a hospitalization, accident, or other emergency, bring documentation. The judge may excuse the absence.

6. In civil cases, you may have 30 days to fix a default judgment. If a judgment was entered against you because you missed a civil hearing, you may be able to file a motion to vacate it.

7. Failure to appear can be a separate criminal charge. For felony cases, failure to appear can be charged as a felony under Minn. Stat. § 609.49 . For misdemeanor cases, it can result in additional fines.

What to Do

• Call the court right away. Contact the court administrator in the county where your case was filed. Ask about your case status and what steps to take.
• Contact a lawyer. An attorney can arrange a voluntary appearance, file a motion to cancel the warrant, and argue for lower bail.
• Appear voluntarily. Go to the courthouse during business hours and tell the clerk you have a warrant. Judges treat people more favorably when they come in on their own.
• Bring identification. Have a valid photo ID and any court paperwork you have when you go to the courthouse.
• Be prepared to post bail. The court may require you to post bail before releasing you. Call the court administrator ahead of time to ask about the bail amount.
• Do not miss your rescheduled hearing. Set multiple reminders. Missing court a second time leads to much harsher consequences.

Important Deadlines

Deadline	What It Means
Immediately	Contact the court or a lawyer as soon as possible after missing your court date
30 days	In civil cases, you may have 30 days to file a motion to vacate a default judgment
New court date	After the warrant is resolved, you will get a new hearing date – do not miss it

Get Help

For more detail: See our full guide on What to Do If You Missed a Court Date.