Law firms, UND work to combat shortage of rural attorneys

G.F. Herald: "When Josh Wolfe was a teenager living on his family’s farm in a rural North Dakota community, he picked up a book that pointed him to his career. By the time he finished reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' the modern classic by Harper Lee, he knew he wanted to become a lawyer."

Some lawmakers support removing slavery reference from Minnesota Constitution

MPR News: "Some Minnesota lawmakers want to amend the state’s constitution to eliminate a little-known clause allowing slavery if someone has been convicted of a crime."

New chief public defender named for Divide, McKenzie and Williams counties

Williston Herald: "The North Dakota Commission for Indigent Defense has selected Donald A. Sauviac, Jr. to serve as the supervising attorney for the Northwestern District of North Dakota, covering the counties of Williams, McKenzie and Divide."

Big Muddy Bar Association sets 2020 meeting schedule

The Big Muddy Bar Association will again be hosting luncheons and providing CLE opportunities for its members in the South Central Judicial District. Big Muddy meets on the fourth Thursday of most months for a noon luncheon at the Elks Club located on South Washington Street in Bismarck.

Roberts: Judges working to promote civics, impartial courts

Associated Press: "Federal judges are taking up the challenge to educate Americans about how their government works at a time when false information can spread instantaneously on social media, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote Tuesday in his annual year-end report."

Job Announcement - Case Aide

A job announcement for a Part-Time Case Aide with the Juvenile Drug Court in Grand Forks has been posted.

Order of Adoption

Amendments to N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 33

Montana to implement revised legal ethics rules in 2020

Bloomberg News: "The start of 2020 will usher in a number of changes to Montana’s professional conduct rules as a result of the first comprehensive rules review in almost two decades."

Minn.: New laws start in 2020

KNSI News: "Three new laws take effect on Wednesday when the calendar turns to January 1st, 2020. They include rules for pharmacy 'middlemen', dealing with the opioid crises, and cracking down on the animal trade."

Courthouses closed Monday due to weather

The Dickey, Foster, Grand Forks and Stutsman County courthouses will be closed Monday, Dec. 30, due to the weather. Cass and Sargent County will open at noon and Barnes County will open at 10 a.m.