Present: Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner, Chair-Elect Justice Daniel J. Crothers Judge Steven McCullough Judge Patrick Weir
Absent: Judge Richard M. Geiger, Chair Judge Douglas Herman
Staff: Sally Holewa Lee Ann Barnhardt
The Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference met on April 27, 2011. Chair-Elect
Kapsner called the meeting to order at 8:18 a.m.
Judge McCullough moved to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2011 meeting. The motion
was seconded by Justice Crothers. The motion carried and the minutes were approved.
The date, location and a proposed agenda for the next Judicial Conference were reviewed. Ms.
Lee Ann Barnhardt, Director of Education and Communication, explained that the Conference is
slotted between the CLE sessions offered by the State Bar Association so that members of the
judiciary may attend those sessions as well as the sessions offered at the Judicial Conference. She
said to best utilize the limited time available, the Judicial Education Commission has focused on
providing short informational sessions rather than trying to trim a more in-depth educational
session into the time allotted.
Justice Kapsner noted that the session on Limited English Proficiency and the Courts is necessary
and timely. Justice Crothers suggested that Judge Marquart, who chaired a subcommittee on
veteran’s courts for the Court Services Committee, should be included as a presenter of the
session on Understanding Veterans’ Issues. He also suggested that the presentation itself be
shortened in order to provide the members of the Judicial Conference plenty of time to ask
questions. Ms. Barnhardt agreed and said that Judge Marquart would be asked to provide an
introduction to the session that will cover what the Court Services Committee has been working
on and the recommendations they will be making to the Supreme Court.
Justice Crothers moved to approve the date, location and proposed agenda for the June Judicial
Conference. The motion was seconded by Judge Weir. The motion carried and the Conference
was approved as follows:
Date: June 16, 2011 Time: 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Location: Ramada Plaza Suites, Fargo, North Dakota
Agenda: Business Meeting 1:45 p.m. Judicial Conference Roll Call I. Approve Minutes from November 22, 2010 II. Report from the Committee on Legislation III. Election IV. Other Business V. Adjourn Education Component (Commencing at the end of the Business Meeting) Limited English Proficiency and the Courts – Rod Olson and Chris Iverson (.5CJE) Understanding Veteran’s Issues – Judge Steven Marquart and Nathan Viton, (.75 CJE)
The discussion then turned to the election of officers to the Judicial Conference. Sally Holewa
noted that election of a new Chair-Elect of the Judicial Conference will need to be held when the
Judicial Conference convenes in June. She reviewed the membership of the Executive
Committee and noted that Judge Geiger’s term as Chair of the Judicial Conference expires in
June. He will remain on the Executive Committee as Past-Chair. As Chair-Elect, Justice
Kapsner will move into the chairmanship of the Judicial Conference and will also become Chair
of the Executive Committee. Judge Herman, who has been serving on the Executive Committee
as Past-Chair of the Judicial Conference will go off the Executive Committee in June. The
person elected as Chair-Elect to the Judicial Conference will also become a member of the
Executive Committee. Judge McCullough indicated that he is willing to accept a nomination as
Chair-Elect.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the chair-elect adjourned the
meeting at 8:24 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sally Holewa Executive Secretary to the Judicial Conference