Judge James Peterson

When a person requests access to a file containing confidential information, the clerk or registrar verifies whether the person is a party; confidential records the party may not access are removed before the file is provided.

An expunged criminal record file is closed to access without a court order, and the Clerk of Courts must take steps to preserve the confidentiality of expunged records.

Confidential records are removed from a file before an attorney accesses it unless the attorney is counsel of record in that case.

Applies to

Presentence investigation report and judgment of conviction

If sentencing results in a prison term, a copy of the PSI and Judgment of Conviction must be provided to the Sheriff for delivery with the prisoner to the Department of Corrections or its designated intake point.

Applies to

Juvenile record access request

Any person, besides the victim of a child's act who has filed or intends to file a civil action, seeking access to records which are not privileged and are within the court's authority to disclose, and who is not otherwise authorized to receive records or information under these policies or who is denied access, shall submit a request to the juvenile clerk which includes the following information: 1. The name, address and telephone number of the requesting party a. If the requesting party is seeking access on behalf of another party, the name, address and telephone number of that party shall be included. 2. The information or record being sought and the basis for the requesting party's belief that such information or record does exist. 3. The degree of urgency attending the request. 4. The purpose for which the information or record is needed, and the relevance of the information or record to the requesting or receiving party's stated purposes. 5. The potential outcomes of the action or actions the requesting or receiving party intends to take which involves the use of the information or record. 6. The requesting party's efforts to lawfully obtain the information or record from other sources. 7. The hardship to the requesting or receiving party's cause if the information or record is not disclosed.

Applies to

Juvenile record access request

An incomplete access request will be returned for completion and may be resubmitted; the court may also request additional information at any time.

Applies to

Summons and complaint

A plaintiff may not use the defendant’s work address on the summons and complaint, and the court will not mail paperwork to work addresses.

Applies to

Eviction action

Service

Personal service

Eviction actions require personal service.

Applies to

Amended complaint

Service

Mail

An amended complaint may be served by first-class mail.

A request to attend a proceeding must be made before the proceeding begins.

The parties’ true legal identities must be established before judgment is taken.

If party identification is improper, the pleadings must be amended at the first appearance date or the error must be brought to the court’s or commissioner’s attention at trial.