Present: Judge Douglas Herman, Chair Justice Mary Muehlen Maring Justice Daniel Crothers Judge Richard Geiger Judge Steven McCullough Judge Robert Wefald
Staff: Sally Holewa LeeAnn Barnhardt
The Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference met on April 7, 2009. Chair Herman being
unavoidably delayed, Past Chair Justice Mary Maring called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
Judge Geiger made a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The motion carried and
the minutes were approved.
The Committee was advised that Paul LeBel, Dean of the UND School of Law, has been
appointed as an interim provost of the University and is requesting that he be removed from the
Judicial Branch Education Commission and that the acting Dean of the UND School of Law,
Kathryn Rand, be appointed to the Judicial Branch Education Commission as his replacement.
Judge Wefald made a motion that Kathryn Rand be appointed to the Judicial Branch Education
Commission. The motion carried.
Justice Maring advised the committee of the need to finalize the date and schedule of the June
Judicial Conference and approve an agenda for the Business Meeting.
LeeAnn Barnhardt, Director of Education and Communication, explained that the June Judicial
Conference is held in conjunction with the annual State Bar Association meeting. She stated that
the Judicial Education Commission does not intend to offer a separate educational track for
judges at this conference; therefore, the only issue is to determine the amount of time needed for
the Judicial Conference Business Meeting and its agenda. The Judicial Education Commission is
recommending that the Business Meeting be held directly after the Judges Association Breakfast.
The Commission received a request for a legislative update and staff attorney, Jim Ganje, has
agreed to present the update. Judge Geiger asked if elections needed to be held in June. It was
determined that they did.
After discussion it was determined that an hour would be sufficient for the Business Meeting and
that it should begin at 8:00 a.m.
At this time, 8:45 a.m., Chair Herman was able to join the meeting. He consented to allow
Justice Maring to continue as chair of the meeting and discussion continued. Judge Wefald made
a motion to adopt the proposed date and schedule. The motion carried and the proposed date of
June 11, 2009, was adopted, as was the proposed schedule of:
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Judicial Conference Business Meeting 1. Election of Officers to the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference 2. Legislative Update
Judge Wefald made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried and the meeting was
adjourned at 8:51 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally A. Holewa Executive Secretary to the Judicial Conference