Notice of Comment

In the Matter of the Judicial Vacancy in
District Judgeship No. 6, with Chambers in Fargo, North Dakota, East Central Judicial District

By letter dated January 11, 2010, the Honorable Georgia Dawson, District Judge for the East Central Judicial District, notified Governor John Hoeven that she is retiring as a District Judge effective September 1, 2010. Chief Justice VandeWalle received Governor Hoeven's notice of Judge Dawson's impending retirement on January 19, 2010. Judge Dawson's retirement creates a vacancy under Section 27-05-02.1(2), N.D.C.C., which requires the Supreme Court to determine whether the judgeship is necessary for effective judicial administration in the East Central Judicial District or whether the judgeship may be transferred. The Supreme Court considered the matter, and

ORDERED, the Supreme Court will undertake a written consultation with the attorneys and judges of the East Central Judicial District under Administrative Rule 7.2, and any other person wishing to comment on the vacancy. All written comments are due no later than Friday, February 12, 2010. 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., Bismarck, ND 58505-0530.

It is expected the Supreme Court will receive a report regarding the East Central Judicial District from the Trial Court Administrator for Unit 2 discussing the criteria under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2, and updated weighted caseload data from the State Court Administrator's Office.

The Supreme Court of the State of North Dakota convened January 20, 2010, with the Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chief Justice, the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom, the Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring, the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner, and the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers, Justices, directing the Clerk of the Supreme Court to enter the above order.