Minutes
North Dakota Judicial Conference
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m., November 19, 2001. Acting Executive Secretary Ted Gladden called role which reflected the following members of the Judicial Conference were present:
Judges of Supreme Court
Gerald W. VandeWalle
William A. Neumann
Dale V. Sandstrom
Mary Muehlen Maring
Carol Ronning Kapsner
Judges of District Court
Benny A. Graff
Gail Hagerty
Donald L. Jorgensen
Burt L. Riskedahl
Robert O. Wefald
Robert W. Holte
William W. McLees
David W. Nelson
Gerald H. Rustad
Michael O. McGuire
Norman J. Backes
Ralph R. Erickson
Frank L. Racek
Cynthia Rothe-Seeger
Zane Anderson
Ronald L. Hilden
Debbie Kleven
Joel D. Medd
John T. Paulson
James M. Bekken
Ronald E. Goodman
John E. Greenwood
Mikal Simonson
M. Richard Geiger
Donovan Foughty
Surrogate Judges
James H. O'Keefe
Kirk Smith
Clerk of Supreme Court
Penny Miller
Members of the Bar
Steven J. Lies
Sherry Mills Moore
Michael D. Sturdevant
James S. Hill
Michael F. Daley
Chair James M. Bekken announced the deaths of former Chief Justice Ralph J. Erickstad and District Judge Glenn V. Dill III. He asked Ted Gladden to read the memorial resolutions. Following the reading of the resolutions, the chair asked everyone to stand and observe a moment of silence.
Chair Bekken introduced Justice William A. Neumann and Justice Mary Muehlen Maring to introduce the speakers and subject for the day. Honorable John Erickson, Circuit Judge, from Huron, South Dakota; and Patricia Garcia, Circuit Administrator, from Brookings, South Dakota, were introduced. They provided an overview of the administrative structure in the South Dakota judiciary. Ms. Garcia discussed alternative administrative structures in Minnesota and New Mexico. She also discussed the differences between district administrator and administrative assistant. Judge Erickson discussed the planning process followed in South Dakota leading to the realignment of judicial districts and creation of professional court administration for the district courts.
Following their presentations, Sharon Cobb, Director; and Linda Charlton, Administrative Assistant from the NDSU Group Decision Center, Fargo, North Dakota, were introduced for the next part of the program. This part of the program provided a computerized interactive decision making process so that members of the conference could discuss questions relating to the administrative structure of the North Dakota courts.
The Judicial Conference recessed at 12:00 p.m. for a luncheon involving presentations of the memorial resolutions to Lois Erickstad for former Chief Justice Ralph J. Erickstad and Kitty Dill for District Judge Glenn V. Dill III.
At 1:00 p.m. the Judicial Conference reconvened. Again, Judge Erickson and Pat Garcia provided comments. Following their discussion, members of the conference were again involved in addressing questions raised relating to the administrative structure of the courts. The program recessed at 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 20, 2001
The conference resumed on discussion of administrative issues of the North Dakota Judiciary using the automated computerized interactive decision making software. The session was concluded at 12:00 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.