April 13, 2010 Administrative Office of the Supreme Court Bismarck, North Dakota
Present: Judge Richard Geiger, Chair Judge Carol Ronning Kapsner, Chair-Elect Justice Daniel Crothers Judge Robert Wefald
Absent: Judge Douglas Herman Judge Steven McCullough
Staff: Sally Holewa Lee Ann Barnhardt
The Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference met on April 13, 2010. Chair Geiger
called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.
Judge Wefald made a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Justice Kapsner
seconded the motion. The motion carried and the minutes of the November 24, 2009 meeting
were approved.
Chair Geiger notified the committee that the terms of Judge Zane Anderson and Judge Gary Lee
on the Pattern Jury Instruction Commission will expire in June. Both are eligible for
reappointment and both have agreed to continue serving on the Commission. Judge Wefald
made a motion to re-appoint Judge Zane Anderson and Judge Gary Lee to the Pattern Jury
Instruction Commission. The motion carried.
Chair Geiger notified the committee that he had contacted the President of the Judge's
Association, Judge Debbie Kleven, to discuss appointments to the Committee on Legislation.
This is an appointment of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference. Judge Wefald
explained that the Committee on Legislation currently consists of himself and Judge Gail
Hagerty. Judge Wefald made a motion to appoint Judge Sonna Anderson to replace him as Chair
of the Committee on Legislation. Justice Kapsner seconded the motion. The motion carried.
The committee reviewed the proposed agenda for the June Judicial Conference. Judge Wefald
made a motion that the Memorial Resolutions be postponed until the November Judicial
Conference. Justice Crothers seconded the motion. The motion carried. It was agreed we would
hold a moment of silence for Judge Ketterling at our June meeting, and then present the formal
memorial resolution at our November meeting. Staff was asked to contact Mrs. Eunice
Ketterling to invite her to attend the first day lunch at our November meeting to receive the
memorial resolution for her late husband, the Honorable Lester Ketterling. Judge Wefald made a motion to approve the agenda of the June Judicial Conference as discussed,
including the time and location as set forth below. Justice Crothers seconded the motion. The
motion carried. Chair Geiger noted for the record that the meeting will be held in conjunction
with the State Bar Association Annual Meeting on June 17, 2010, at the Ramkota Hotel, in
Bismarck.
The agenda as approved will be:
1:45 p.m. Judicial Conference Convenes
Adjourn
Ms. Lee Ann Barnhardt, Director of Education and Communication, discussed the option of
using 45 minutes of the time set aside for the Judicial Conference to present an educational
session. It was agreed this time could be used for a presentation on Pet Therapy by the
Children's Advocacy Center.
Judge Wefald notified the committee that his appointment to the Executive Committee expires
on June 30, 2010. This is an appointment of the North Dakota Judges Association. Chair Geiger
will contact Judge Kleven to ask her to bring the issue of the appointment before the Association.
Judge Wefald made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Justice Kapsner seconded the motion. The
motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:24 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally A. Holewa Executive Secretary to the Judicial Conference