The City Attorney’s Office seeks to advance the City’s legal interests through services exemplified by respect, integrity and professionalism.
The Office of the City Attorney is responsible for all of the City’s legal business. As such, the City Attorney serves as the legal advisor and representative for the City of Rochester. The City Attorney is the attorney for City officials and employees (for actions taken in the course of their public duties), City departments, boards and commissions.
The City Attorney cannot represent private citizens in their personal legal matters.
The City Attorney has a substantial criminal prosecution responsibility. The City Attorney prosecutes all petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor and some gross misdemeanor criminal cases occurring within the City. The City Attorney does not prosecute any felony cases. (The Olmsted County Attorney prosecutes all felony cases occurring anywhere in Olmsted County.)
Although the City Attorney’s Office has a significant duty to prosecute most criminal offenses occurring within the City of Rochester, the Office does not have any resources available to receive crime reports or to investigate criminal cases. Instead, the Office relies on the Rochester Police Department for crime reports and all criminal investigation services. If you wish to report a crime, you must contact the Rochester Police Department.
