The Minnesota Judicial Branch has successfully cleared the pandemic-induced backlog of criminal cases. Felony and gross misdemeanor cases surged by 40% when COVID-19 halted in-person hearings. To tackle this, the MN Judicial Council introduced remote hearings, hired more staff, and organized special events to reduce the backlog. An Access & Fairness Survey conducted in late 2023, with feedback from over 15,000 residents, showed the state’s highest satisfaction rating since 2008. Court wait time dissatisfaction also dropped from 47% in 2019 to 28%.