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Pine County District Court judge reviews operations and announces retirement
Summary
Judge Martin gave a detailed update on county court operations—including new electronic evidence rules and shortages in competency restoration navigators—and said he plans to retire, with the court office date listed as Sept. 19 and a retirement filing for Oct. 6.
Judge Martin delivered a broad update on the Pine County District Court's operations, staffing and recent procedural changes, and announced he will retire this fall.
The judge noted that since Jan. 1 one judge handles child protection across four counties in the PICS region and that court staff must now admit evidence electronically when available. He warned that a shortage of competency restoration navigators has created waiting lists that can delay criminal cases. "We're waiting for them to regain competency," he said, explaining how those cases can stall other matters. Judge Martin told the board his last day in the office will be Sept. 19 and that he has filed his retirement for Oct. 6; the board responded with thanks and recollections of shared work.
He also recounted operational changes that improved courtroom capabilities—new jury-deliberation equipment and remote appearances—and described ongoing fiscal challenges at the state level that affect psych services, jury budgets and cybersecurity. The judge praised county-court partnerships and noted an anticipated judicial reallocation that will bring Judge Stony Hillius to Pine County.
