In the Matter of the Judicial Vacancy in District Judgeship No. 3,
with Chambers in Bottineau, North Dakota, Northeast Judicial District
By letter dated October 19, 2005, the Honorable Lester Ketterling, District Judge for the Northeast Judicial District, notified Governor John Hoeven that he is resigning as a District Judge effective December 31, 2005. On October 25, 2005, Governor Hoeven notified Chief Justice VandeWalle of Judge Ketterling’s resignation. Judge Ketterling’s resignation creates a vacancy under Section 27-05-02.1, N.D.C.C. Section 27-05-02.1, N.D.C.C., requires the Supreme Court to determine whether the office is necessary for effective judicial administration.
ORDERED, the Supreme Court will undertake a written consultation with the attorneys and judges of the Northeast Judicial District under Administrative Rule 7.2. Any person wishing to comment on the vacancy may do so in writing no later than Tuesday, November 15, 2005. Written comments may be e-mailed to Penny Miller, Clerk of the Supreme Court, at supclerkofcourt@ndcourts.gov, or addressed to 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 180, Bismarck, ND 58505-0530.
The Supreme Court of the State of North Dakota convened October 26, 2005, with the Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chief Justice, the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom, the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner, and the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers, Justices, directing the Clerk of the Supreme Court to enter the above order. The Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring, being unavoidably absent, did not participate.