Present: Absent:
Judge Douglas Herman, Chair
Justice Mary Muehlen Maring
Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner
Judge Gail Hagerty
Judge M. Richard Geiger
Judge John T. Paulson
Judge Bruce Romanick
Staff:
Sally Holewa
LeeAnn Barnhardt
The Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference met on April 8, 2008. Chair Herman called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.
Judge Hagerty made a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The motion carried and the minutes were approved.
Sally Holewa advised the committee of the need to finalize the schedule and location of the June Judicial Conference and approve an agenda for the business meeting.
Justice Maring explained that the Judicial Education Commission is anticipating a 2-hour session on pro se litigation. She said the time block of 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. is suitable for that purpose. Lee Ann Barnhardt indicated the possibility of another educational session after lunch, opposite the SBAND session on new Supreme Court opinions. After discussion it was determined that most judges would prefer to either attend the SBAND session or opt to return to work.
An offer from Dean LeBel to hold the Judicial Conference at the UND Law School was reviewed. After discussion it was determined that transportation issues and the desirability of providing an opportunity for the bench and bar to share learning experiences prevented the acceptance of the offer. Staff was directed to send a letter to Dean LeBel advising him of the decision. Following the discussion, the Executive Committee adopted the proposed location of the Alerus Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota, as the location of the June Judicial Conference.
Discussion then turned to the agenda for the business meeting. Judge Hagerty informed the committee that Judge Wefald, who chairs the legislative committee, would not be attending the Judicial Conference. As vice-chair, she will be sending a letter to the members of the Judicial Conference requesting them to forward any ideas for legislative initiatives to her for inclusion at the business meeting discussion.
Judge Geiger stated that he has completed the updates to the criminal bench book. Copies will be available at the Judicial Conference. Judge Herman indicated that he will make an announcement regarding the bench book and formally recognize Judge Geiger's work on that project.
Judge Geiger made a motion to adopt the proposed date and schedule. The motion carried and the proposed date and place of June 12, 2008, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota, was adopted, as was the proposed schedule of:
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Business meeting
—Legislative Committee update
—Criminal Section of the Bench Book
9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Educational Session
There are three members of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference who will be term-limited off the Committee. They are Judge Hagerty, Judge Romanick, and Justice Kapsner. Staff will send notice of the need for new appointments from the North Dakota Judges Association and the Chief Justice, respectively.
In other business, Justice Maring asked that the amended by-laws be sent to all members of the Judicial Conference prior to the June Judicial Conference.
It was decided that the next meeting of the Executive Committee would be held after the June Judicial Conference and before the November Judicial Conference, with the exact date to be determined once the new members of the committee have been appointed.
Judge Herman made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally A. Holewa
Executive Secretary to the Judicial Conference