Jack, Thanks, but the question was about judgments, and though I did reference "liens," I was replying only with respect to Minnesota statutes on judgments, which I know pretty well. The link you put was for liens only and, as Chris said, only pertains to timber issues.
Even when perfected/docketed judgments are different from liens, which are typically for work performed but not paid. Judgments here do not encumber property except in very specific situations, and only if filed before property transfer.
Unsatisfied judgments may give title companies reason to deny title insurance, though this really just reflects title company pickiness. In the case I spoke of, the title was insured for a Wells Fargo refi despite the presence of an unsatisfied $5000 judgment, on the title holder, incurred since the original loan and while on title. Not exactly a hidden title defect, and easily found; it was in the same county as the property! Yet the refi was done, the loan funded...then two years later, I shorted it for 50c on the dollar.
In the case of non-homestead property ONLY, judgments could cloud clear title, at least if filed before the transfer. A case could be made to unwind the chain of title if a transfer like mine occured, with or without title insurance, in this case. Then I'd have to satisfy the judgment. I'm prepared to do that if necessary, but my RE atty says "don't worry about it, they can't collect."