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Referee, Hennepin County, Family Division
JOB_REQUIREMENTS
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Hennepin County District Court invites qualified applicants for a full-time Judicial Referee position in the
Family Division
. Family Court handles cases where parties seek court intervention to help resolve their family related issues. Judges and referees hear and decide cases such as divorce, paternity, domestic abuse, child custody, support and family time. The appointment will be made by the Hennepin County District Court Chief Judge. Applicants are not required to be residents of Hennepin County.
This position supports the Judicial Branch's mission to increase access to justice for all people in the State of Minnesota. Work assignments are carried out with a substantial degree of discretion and independent judgment within the framework of state laws and rules of procedure applicable to the administration of the assigned court and judicial proceedings.
This position provides direct supervision to a team of up to two chambers staff. This position will be located at the Family Justice Center and the Hennepin County Government Center (upon the move of Family Court operations to the Government Center in 2026). The position has the potential to be reassigned to other areas of the court as needed. This position will work both onsite and remotely, which may change depending on business needs. A reliable internet connection will be required when working remotely. The target start date for this position is January 5, 2026.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package. You can learn more about benefits at
mn.gov/mmb/segip
.
Family Division
. Family Court handles cases where parties seek court intervention to help resolve their family related issues. Judges and referees hear and decide cases such as divorce, paternity, domestic abuse, child custody, support and family time. The appointment will be made by the Hennepin County District Court Chief Judge. Applicants are not required to be residents of Hennepin County.
This position supports the Judicial Branch's mission to increase access to justice for all people in the State of Minnesota. Work assignments are carried out with a substantial degree of discretion and independent judgment within the framework of state laws and rules of procedure applicable to the administration of the assigned court and judicial proceedings.
This position provides direct supervision to a team of up to two chambers staff. This position will be located at the Family Justice Center and the Hennepin County Government Center (upon the move of Family Court operations to the Government Center in 2026). The position has the potential to be reassigned to other areas of the court as needed. This position will work both onsite and remotely, which may change depending on business needs. A reliable internet connection will be required when working remotely. The target start date for this position is January 5, 2026.
The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefits package. You can learn more about benefits at
mn.gov/mmb/segip
.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Examples listed below may not reflect all duties performed.
- Serves at the pleasure of the Chief Judge or designee
and performs under their direction in accordance with
Minnesota Statutes § 484.70
, court rules, and the
Minnesota Code of Judicial Conduct.
- Carries out work assignments with a substantial degree of discretion and independent judgment.
- Presides over assigned hearings and cases, including contested and uncontested trials, motions, and other proceedings; manages calendars and cases efficiently; maintains order and decorum in all proceedings; treats all parties with courtesy and respect.
- Instructs parties and witnesses about their rights and affords every party the full right to be heard.
- Evaluates evidence, rules on objections, and make decisions on factual and legal questions.
- Prepares findings, orders, and correspondence that meet Judicial Branch standards; perform legal research.
- Confers with attorneys and the public; collaborates with other judicial officers.
- Acts as a subject matter expert for District Court; acts as a liaison with partner agencies and the community, giving presentations on subject matter expertise to judicial, legal and community groups.
- Exercises discretion and independent judgment in carrying out assignments in accordance with state laws, rules of court, and local practices; refrains from extra-judicial statements on pending matters.
- Supervises up to two chamber staff.
- Performs other related work as required by the court.
TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Education and Experience:
- Must be a licensed attorney in the State of Minnesota.
- A combined five years of experience as either an attorney representing and/or advising clients in practice, or as a judicial officer.
- Must be in good standing and have no disciplinary actions within the past 5 years.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Extensive and thorough knowledge of general and specific laws, state laws, established precedents, and sources of legal reference related to the assigned division of the court.
- Ability to be fair, impartial, and sensitive to the needs of a diverse population.
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and collaborative with team members and justice partners and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with self-represented litigants.
- Thorough knowledge of court procedures, rules of evidence, and trial and courtroom procedures.
- Ability to apply legal principles and specialized knowledge to individual cases and problems.
- Ability to prepare for hearings and trials, hear difficult cases, and present findings, decisions, and other material clearly and logically in oral and written form.
- Ability to maintain control and courtroom decorum with parties in crisis who often have limited understanding of court proceedings.
- Ability to handle a large volume of cases and issue decisions in a timely manner.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience as an attorney representing clients or as a judicial officer.
- Courtroom and litigation experience in family law cases.
- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure with excellent case and time management skills.
- Extensive experience as a problem-solving critical thinker.
- Possesses a broad organizational perspective to improve the administration of justice in Hennepin County District Court.
- Possesses experience, knowledge and comfort with technology and electronic records.
- Prior experience supervising team members in a professional environment.
SALARY:
The expected
salary is $81.94 per hour ($171,091 annually). This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for State of MN employee benefits.
salary is $81.94 per hour ($171,091 annually). This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for State of MN employee benefits.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
- Complete and submit your online application with resume and cover letter attached by December 1st, 2025, at 11:59pm.
- Please contact Human Resources with questions regarding this posting via email:
4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us
; or phone: 612-540-6488.
- All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check. An employment offer may be rescinded if the background check identifies job related convictions.
Why Work for Us?
Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and value diversity in professional background and cultural characteristics. We are intentional and mindful about the organizational culture we are building, seeking broad-minded individuals with robust capabilities who value supporting one another’s growth.
Employee Benefits
The Minnesota Judicial Branch cares about and invests in you as an employee. Because of that, we offer affordable yet competitive benefits to support you and your family’s wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees includes health and wellness benefits, enhanced fertility benefits, short- and long-term disability, pension, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and more. Learn more at Employee Benefits - Careers at the Minnesota Judicial Branch Careers . Minnesota Judicial Branch employees may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. This federal program allows qualified individuals to have their loans forgiven after meeting certain requirements working in public service. You can learn more about this program from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the office of Federal Student Aid.
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting Human Resources at 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us . The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment be made without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We value and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Internal Applicants
If you are a current employee of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, please apply to open positions conveniently through your Oracle account by visiting Opportunity Marketplace - Browse Opportunities .
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