Hennepin County Criminal Defense and DWI Lawyers

Hennepin County courts at a glance

Hennepin County criminal and DWI cases are heard in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District, downtown in Minneapolis and at two suburban courts: Brookdale in Brooklyn Center and Ridgedale in Minnetonka. The suburban courts handle non-felony criminal and traffic cases from the cities they serve. Felonies and treatment courts are downtown. Martine Law’s Brooklyn Center office is near the Brookdale court.

Call (612) 294-0650. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

Where your Hennepin County case will be heard

• Downtown Minneapolis: criminal court locations include the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S 6th St, and the Public Safety Facility, 401 S 4th Ave. Follow your hearing notice for the correct building and courtroom.
• Brookdale (Division 2), 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center 55430: non-felony criminal and traffic cases from northwest Hennepin cities such as Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Robbinsdale and Rogers.
• Ridgedale (Division 3), 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka 55305: non-felony criminal and traffic cases from western Hennepin cities such as Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Plymouth, St. Louis Park and Wayzata.
• Jail: Hennepin County Adult Detention Center, 401 S 4th Ave, Minneapolis 55415.
• License revocation petitions for offenses in Hennepin County are filed in Hennepin County District Court.

Your hearing notice lists the exact location. Some suburban cities are heard downtown. Check the official Hennepin court location guidance.

Hennepin County DWI Court

Hennepin County runs a DWI Court for repeat DWI offenders. It is a voluntary program after conviction that lasts at least 18 months and combines judicial supervision, intensive community supervision, frequent testing and long-term treatment. Referral goes through a screening process. Hennepin County also runs Drug Court, Criminal Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. See the official treatment court information for program details.

DWI in Hennepin County: the first 60 days

• A DWI incident can lead to separate criminal proceedings and a civil license revocation by the Department of Public Safety. Their timing and deadlines can differ.
• The officer-issued temporary license under Minn. Stat. 169A.52, subdivision 7 lasts 14 days. The temporary license under section 171.177, subdivision 8, for the search-warrant testing process lasts seven days. Check the actual notice and temporary license for dates; do not assume the period starts on the arrest date.
• To challenge the revocation in court, you must file a petition for judicial review within 60 days of receiving the notice and order of revocation, in the district court of the county where the offense happened (Minn. Stat. 169A.53, subd. 2; 171.177, subd. 11).
• Administrative revocation periods depend on age, test result and driving history. With no qualified prior impaired driving incident in the past 20 years, section 171.178, subdivisions 3 and 4, generally requires at least 90 days for test failure, at least 180 days for a driver under 21 with an alcohol result below 0.16, and at least one year for an alcohol result of 0.16 or more or test refusal. These are administrative periods; a later conviction and other statutory provisions can affect the applicable period. Have an attorney review the actual notice and record.
• Vehicle forfeiture and plate impoundment are separate consequences. Section 169A.63 identifies qualifying offenses and license revocations, including first-degree DWI and specified repeat incidents. Seizure does not mean every owner automatically loses the vehicle: ownership defenses, notice requirements and statutory exceptions can matter.
• Section 169A.60 governs plate impoundment. Triggers include specified repeat incidents, an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more, and certain incidents involving a child passenger. Review the plate order separately from the license revocation notice.

Learn more on our license revocation page and our Minnesota DWI defense page.

What to bring after a Hennepin County DWI arrest

Keep the citation or complaint, hearing notice, release conditions, temporary license, revocation notice, plate order and any vehicle-seizure paperwork. Record when and how each notice arrived. Bring vehicle ownership or loan records if someone else owns or finances the car.

A forfeiture challenge has its own procedure. Under section 169A.63, subdivision 8, a judicial demand generally requires filing a civil complaint and serving the prosecuting authority within 60 days after service of the seizure and forfeiture notice. A qualifying owner who was not the driver has a separate written-notice procedure under subdivision 7a. Do not assume a criminal appearance or license petition also challenges the vehicle forfeiture.

Charges we defend in Hennepin County

• DWI, from a first offense to felony DWI
• Assault and domestic assault
• Orders for protection and no contact orders
• Drug charges
• Theft and shoplifting
• Sex crimes
• Felonies, gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors
• Probation violations
• Expungement (sealing an old record)

Charged in Minneapolis? See our Minneapolis criminal defense page.

Our Hennepin County office

• Brooklyn Center: 6160 Summit Dr N, Suite 218, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Meetings are by appointment, by phone or by video. Call (612) 294-0650. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

Talk to us today

Your first conversation may be with a Director of Client Engagement (non-attorney), who helps with intake and scheduling and does not provide legal advice. An attorney can evaluate your charges, license issues and legal options.

Call (612) 294-0650 or request a case review below. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

This page is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Contacting Martine Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, court locations and procedures can change; check your hearing notice.

Criminal defense services are provided by Martine Law PLLC.