RULE 42. VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL; MOOTNESS
(a)Voluntary Dismissal. If the parties to an appeal or other proceeding shall sign and file with the clerk of the supreme court an agreement that the proceeding be dismissed, specifying which specifies the terms as to payment of costs, and shall the parties pay whatever fees are due, the clerk shall enter the case dismissed, but no mandate or other process shall may issue without an order of the court. An appeal may be dismissed on motion of the appellant upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the parties or fixed by the court.
(b)Involuntary Dismissal. When an appellant is in violation of any appellate rule and no motion to dismiss has been filed by the appellee, the clerk of the supreme court shall notify the appellant that unless the appellant gives reason within ten days why the case should not be dismissed, the case will be dismissed.
(1)(c)Mootness. When an issue appealed might be considered moot, the parties, or any of the parties, shall file a notice with the clerk of the supreme court advising the issue appealed has become moot and explaining why appeal of the issue should or should not be dismissed.
(2)(c)Mootness. When an issue appealed might be considered moot, the parties, or any of the parties, shall advise the court in writing the issue appealed has become moot and explain why appeal of the issue should or should not be dismissed.
(3)(c)Mootness. When an issue appealed could be considered moot by the court due to a change in circumstance, the parties, or at least one of the parties, shall immediately file a notice with the clerk of the supreme court explaining the change in circumstance and why appeal of the issue should or should not be dismissed.
(4)(c)Mootness. When an issue appealed could be considered moot by the court due to a change in circumstance, the parties, or at least one of the parties, shall immediately advise the court in writing about the change in circumstance and explain why appeal of the issue should or should not be dismissed.
(5)(c)Mootness. Each party, or at least one of the parties, shall immediately inform the court in writing of any changed circumstance that could cause the court to conclude an issue appealed is moot. The court shall be informed of the changed circumstance through a written motion or stipulation for dismissal, or other writing explaining why appeal of the issue should or should not be dismissed.
(6)(c)Potential Mootness. Each party, or at least one of the parties, shall immediately inform the court in writing, of any changed circumstance that could cause the court to conclude an issue appealed is moot.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This rule is derived from Rule 42, FRAppP, although subdivision (a) of the Federal Rule, relating to dismissal in the trial court before the appeal is docketed, has been deleted. All stipulations and motions for dismissal must be filed in the Supreme Court.
Rule 42 was amended, effective March 1, 1990. The amendment provides for an involuntary dismissal when an appellant fails to comply with the appellate rules.
Subdivision (c) was added, effective , because generally the supreme court will not consider a moot issue. See Ashley Education Association v. Ashley Public School, 556 N.W.2d 666 (N.D. 1996).
SOURCES: Supreme Court Conference Minutes of October 23, 1989. Procedure Committee Minutes of ; April 20, 1989, pages 17-18; May 25-26, 1978, page 21; March 16-17, 1978, page 14. Rule 42, FRAppP.