State court officials don’t plan on undertaking a review of family court cases in the First Judicial District despite a request from state Sen. Julianne Ortman.

Last month Ortman, a Republican from Chanhassen who is deputy Senate majority leader, asked the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and the state court administrator for an investigation to determine whether there is a “systemic problem” with how family court matters are handled in the district, especially those in Carver County.

State Court Administrator Sue K. Dosal responded in an April 30 letter and indicated an investigation isn’t warranted.

“The Minnesota judicial branch takes seriously the fair and timely handling of all cases and especially those involving children and families,” the letter said.

The letter said there are two avenues for review of litigant dissatisfaction: appellate review of a trial court decision and, if a litigant alleges unethical conduct by a judge, a complaint to the Board of Judicial Standards.

The letter also indicated First District Chief Judge Edward Lynch had previously given a detailed response to Ortman in December after she asked him to review seven cases in Carver County.

“Given Chief Judge Lynch’s recent and extensive review …, the additional avenues of review available …, and the absence of evidence that this review is insufficient and these remedies are not legally adequate, I respectfully decline to undertake the action you requested,” the letter said.

Dosal said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea asked her to respond with the letter.

Lea Banken, who currently has a child custody case up for appeal, said she was surprised and disappointed with the state court response.

“Sen. Ortman obviously thinks there is something here,” Banken said.

Banken, who has been pushing for judicial reform, said she doesn’t put much weight on Judge Lynch’s review since he is in charge of the First Judicial District.