IN THE SUPREME COURT

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

IN THE MATTER OF THE JUDICIAL VACANCY IN DISTRICT JUDGESHIP NUMBER 3 IN THE CHAMBER AT MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, NORTHWEST JUDICIAL DISTRICT )
)
)
)
) Order Appointing Hearing Officer
Supreme Court No. 970402

On December 31, 1997, Wallace J. Berning, District Judge for the Northwest Judicial District, notified this Court that he will not be seeking reelection when his term expires thus creating a vacancy under Section 27-05-02.1(4), N.D.C.C. Section 27-05-02.1, N.D.C.C., requires the Supreme Court to determine whether the vacancy should be filled.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that under Section 27-17-03, N.D.C.C., and Administrative Rule 7.2, the Honorable Vernon R. Pederson, Surrogate Judge, be designated as a Hearing Officer to receive comments and submit to this Court a report containing findings of fact on all issues regarding this vacancy. No recommendations will be submitted unless chamber relocation is in issue and then only as to the issue of relocation.

The Supreme Court of the State of North Dakota convened at 9 a.m. this 7th day of January, 1998, with the Honorable Herbert L. Meschke, the Honorable William A. Neumann, the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom, and the Honorable Mary Muehlen Maring, Justices, directing the Clerk of the Supreme Court to enter the above order.

Penny Miller, Clerk
North Dakota Supreme Court