Leo C. Broderick

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1944 - 1953

Judge Broderick was born in Winona, Minnesota, December 27, 1885. He graduated from the Winona High School and received his law degree from the University of Minnesota. He was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 1909. He moved to Mandan, North Dakota, later that year and was admitted to the North Dakota State Bar in 1910, he was associated with the Hanley and Sullivan law firm for about ten years. In August, 1944, Governor John Moses appointed him Judge of the Sixth Judicial District. He served in that capacity until his death on February 18, 1953.

Eugene A. Burdick

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1953 - 1978

Born October 15, 1912, at Williston, N.D., son of Mr. and Mrs. Usher L. Burdick. Attended Williston public schools and University of Minnesota (B.A. 1933, L.L.B. 1935). Admitted to Bar of North Dakota 1935. Practiced law at Williston 1935-1953; Williams County State's Attorney 1939-1945. Appointed Fifth Judicial District Judge by Governor C. Norman Brunsdale June 1, 1953, for the unexpired term of Judge McGee. Elected 1954, 1960, 1966, and 1972. Retired 1978. Continued serving as a Surrogate Judge until his death. Commissioner on Uniform State Laws; President of National Conference of Commissioners 1971-73. Member, American Bar Association, American Judicature Society, American Law Institute, Institute of Judicial Administration, National Conference of State Trial Judges, National Council of Juvenile Court Judges, State Bar Association (President 1951-52), Order of the Coif, Phi Alpha Delta, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Elks (honorary life member), Kiwanis. Married May Picard on February 14, 1939. Two children: William Eugene and Elizabeth Jane (Mrs. Thomas) Cantarine. Died November 4, 2000.

Olger B. Burtness

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1950 - 1960

Judge Burtness was born in Grand Forks County, Dakota Territory on March 14, 1884, he lived his entire life in Grand Forks County. Attended the rural school at Mekinock, received his B. A. in 1906; L. L. B. in 1907 from the University of North Dakota. He was admitted to the North Dakota State Bar in 1907 and entered into the practice of law in Grand Forks. He was State's Attorney for Grand Forks County from 1911 till 1916; member of the 1919 legislative assembly, and a member of congress representing the First District, serving six terms, 1919-1933. He practiced law in Grand Forks, North Dakota until September, 1950 when Governor Fred G. Aandahl appointed him Judge of the First Judicial District. He served in that capacity until his death on January 21, 1960.

Charles W. Buttz

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1910 - 1948

Judge Buttz was born near new Hope, New Jersey, August 1, 1875. He came to Ransom County, Dakota Territory, March 1, 1881. He attended the North Dakota Agricultural College and graduated from Law School of the Minnesota University. He was admitted to the Bar in 1900. From 1908 to 1913 he was Assistant State's Attorney of Benson County. In 1910 he was appointed Judge of the Second Judicial District, by Governor John Burke, he served in that capacity until his death on October 25, 1948.

Nicholas W. Chase

District Court Judge

Appointed: 2022 - Present

Judge Chase was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2022 for the East Central Judicial District judgeship #6 located in Fargo, ND. 

Born in 1968; Judge Chase received his Bachelor's degree from Minot State University in 1991.  He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota in 1995, and was admitted to the N.D. State Bar on September 22, 1995.  

Judge Chase served as a special assistant North Dakota attorney general and worked in practice from 1998 to 2002.  He served as a law clerk for Senior Circuit Judge Myron Bright in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997-1998, and for Magistrate Judge Karen Klein in U.S. District Court from 1995-1997.  

Judge Chase served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota from 2002 to 2022.  As an assistant U.S. Attorney, he led the office's Appellate, White Collar Fraud, Criminal Immigration, and Asset Recovery units.  Judge Chase tried numerous cases to verdict, including illegal labor trafficking, child exploitation, violent crime, international bank fraud, narcotics, money laundering, farm program fraud, and Jamaican lottery fraud.  Judge Chase was promoted to first assistant U.S. attorney in 2019.  He was appointed to serve as interim U.S. attorney in February 2021. 

Lee A. Christofferson

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1986 - 2017

Born in 1946 in Rugby and raised in Bisbee, ND. B.S. degree from University of North Dakota and J.D. from Syracuse University. Military duty with U. S. Army. In private practice in Rolla and served as Rolette County States Attorney 1984-86. Appointed Northeast Judicial District Judge in 1986 by Governor George A. Sinner. Elected in 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010. Elected presiding judge in 1995. Married: wife, Sandi. Two children.

Sonja Clapp

District Court Judge

Elected: 2005 - 2014

Born in 1948. Graduate: BA and JD, University of North Dakota. Assistant State's Attorney, Grand Forks County, 1988-2004. Employed prior to law career by Grand Forks and Ramsey County social services for approximately 11 years. Elected Northeast Central Judicial District Judge in 2004, 2010. Judge Clapp retired Dec. 1, 2014.

Cherie L. Clark

District Court Judge

Appointed: 2023 - Present

Judge Clark was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2017 for the Southeast Judicial District judgeship #1 located in Jamestown, ND.  When Judgeship #11 opened in the East Central Judicial District in 2023, she was appointed by Governor Doug Burgum.  

Born in 1969; Judge Clark attended the University of South Dakota and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 1996.  She received her master's degree in Public Administration in 1997; and she received her Juris Doctor in 2000. She was admitted to the N.D. Bar on January 8, 2007. Judge Clark served as an assistant county attorney for Otter Tail County in Minnesota from 2002-2006, and was the assistant State's Attorney for Cass County from 2006-2017.

Constance L. Cleveland

District Court Judge

Elected: 2022 - Present

Judge Cleveland was elected as District Court Judge in 2022 for the East Central Judicial District judgeship #4 located in Fargo, ND. 

Born in Grand Forks in 1960, Judge Cleveland graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High School.  She obtained her Bachelor's of Science in secondary education from the University of North Dakota, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1988. She was admitted to the N.D. State Bar on October 4, 1988; the Minnesota Bar in 1988; the U.S. District Court of North Dakota in 1989; Eighth Circut Court of Appeals in 1992; and the United States Supreme Court in 2003.  Judge Cleveland obtained her specialist certification from the National Association of Counsel for Children as a Child Welfare Law Specialist in 2003 until 2023. As a student, Judge Cleveland served as a law clerk for Judge Kirk Smith in the North Central Judicial District and was an intern at the Grand Fork's State's Attorneys office.  She was also a law clerk at Massee, Leonard and Lindquist law firm in East Grand Forks, MN. 

Judge Cleveland served as in-house counsel and child protection attorney for Cass County Social Services from 1997 to 2022; Special Assistant Attorney General from 2003 to 2012 representing the North Dakota Department of Human Services; Assistant Cass County State's Attorney in the criminal division from 1991 to 1997; Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney from 1989 to 1991; and Judicial Law Clerk in Minnesota's Ninth Judicial District from 1988 to 1989.  

Judge Cleveland served as an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN for twenty-seven years beginning in 1996.

James A. Coffey

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1911 - 1928

Judge Coffey was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, on July 4, 1872. He attended school at Lenoir, until moving to Portland, Oregon, where he graduated from high school. He received his B. A. degree from the University of Idaho, and L. L. B. degree from the University of Minnesota. He came to Courtenay, North Dakota in 1902, where he practiced law until 1910. In 1911 he was appointed Judge of the Fifth Judicial District by Governor John Burke, he served in that capacity until 1919, when the judicial districts were revised he became Judge of the Fourth Judicial District from 1919 until 1928. He returned to private practice, and was briefly associated with Alvin C. Strutz, and later headed the firm of Coffey, Mackenzie and Jungroth in Jamestown, North Dakota. Judge Coffey died on November 27, 1957.

Albert T. Cole

District Court Judge

Elected: 1918 - 1932

Judge Cole was born in Avon, Wisconsin, October 8, 1858. In the spring of 1863, he moved with his parents to Minnesota where he received his grade school education. In 1884 he moved to Ellendale, North Dakota, where he engaged in the grain-buying business and began the study of law. In 1891 he was admitted to the Bar, by Judge Lauder of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and the following year was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of North Dakota. He was a member of the first North Dakota Legislature from Dickey County, serving one term, he also served as State's Attorney of Dickey County. In 1917 he was elected Judge of the Third Judicial District, he served until 1919, when the judicial districts were revised he became Judge of the First Judicial District from 1919 until his death on May 12, 1932.

Charles M. Cooley

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1913 - 1927

Judge Cooley was born in Decorah, Iowa, on December 18, 1856. He graduated from the Literary Department of the University of Michigan in June 1878. During his vacations and after graduation, he studied law in his father's office, and was admitted to the Bar in the state of Iowa in 1879. In March 1882, he moved to a farm in Davison County, Dakota Territory. He served as County Superintendent of the schools of Davison County in 1885 and 1886. On July 5, 1900 he moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota. On January 9, 1913 he was appointed Judge of the First Judicial District, by Governor Louis B. Hanna. Judge Cooley served in that capacity until his death on September 12, 1927.

Wickham Corwin

District Court Judge

Elected: 2009 - 2014

Born in 1950. Graduated from the University of Utah with degree in Biology, 1972. Graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law, 1976. Attorney at Conmy Feste Ltd., Fargo, 1976-2008. Elected District Judge in 2008. Married: Wife, Holly; Son, Johnathon.

John F. Cowan

District Court Judge

Elected: 1901 - 1912

Judge Cowan was born in Moffat, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, December 29, 1858. In 1862 the family emigrated to Ontario, Canada, where he attended the common schools of Canada, graduating from the Ottawa Normal School in 1877. After that he studied medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for two years. He came to the United States in 1880, locating in Port Huron, Michigan, where he was a clerk for the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad Company. In 1881 he came to North Dakota and settled near Stump Lake, in Nelson County, later he moved to Devils Lake, where he began reading law and later entered the law office of John McGee, of Devils Lake, he then became a member of the firm of McGee & Morgan. In 1885 he was admitted to practice before the Territorial District Court, he opened his own law office that same year, later he became associated with P. J. McClory, under the firm name of Cowan & McClory. In 1890 he was elected State's Attorney of Ramsey County serving until 1894, when he was elected Attorney General of North Dakota, he was re-elected to this position three times. He served as Judge of the Second Judicial District from 1901 until 1912, surviving an unsuccessful impeachment attempt in 1911 Judge Cowan died on November 25, 1917.

Eugene Coyne

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1967 - 1971

Judge Coyne was born in Starkweather, North Dakota, May 5, 1915. He graduated from the Starkweather High School, he then entered the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, and graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1938. He practiced law in Pembina County until entering the military, he returned to Pembina County following the war, in 1953 he moved to Minot, North Dakota. He was in private practice at Minot for a time, until he became a partner in the firm of Bosard, McCutcheon and Coyne. In June of 1967 he was appointed Judge of the Fifth Judicial District by Governor William L. Guy, with the term to become effective on August 1, 1967. He served until his death in March 11, 1971.

Eugene F. Coyne

District Court Judge

Appointed: 1942 - 1948

Judge Coyne was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 31, 1887. He graduated from the St. Paul College of Law, later was admitted to the Bar in Minnesota and North Dakota. In 1912 he came to LaMoure, North Dakota where he entered in the general practice of law. During the years at La Moure he served several years as City Attorney and was State's Attorney of LaMoure County for ten years. In January of 1942 he was appointed Judge of the Third Judicial District by Governor Moses. Judge Coyne served in that capacity until his death on February 12, 1948.

William C. Crawford

District Court Judge

Elected: 1909 - 1919

Judge Crawford was born in Cedar County Missouri, on February 24, 1872. At the age of sixteen he left for college; teaching two years to procure means to continue his education. He graduated from Warrensburg State Normal College; taught two more years and served as Principal of the Warsaw Public Schools. He then entered the Missouri State University, from which he graduated in 1897, with the degrees of B. S. and L. L. B. He practiced law in Cedar County, Missouri, was twice elected as State's Attorney of Cedar County. He moved to Dickinson, North Dakota, in March 1903. He was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial District in 1908, he served in that capacity until 1919, when the judicial districts were revised he became Judge of the Sixth Judicial District from 1919 until 1920. Judge Crawford died on February 28, 1961.

Todd L. Cresap

District Court Judge

Appointed: 2009 - Present

Judge Cresap was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor John Hoeven in 2009 for the North Central Judicial District judgeship #5 located in Minot, ND.  He was then elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.  

Born in 1961; Judge Cresap is a native of Valley City, ND. He received his bachelor's degree from Minot State College in 1983, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1986.   He was admitted to the N.D. Bar on September 26, 1986.   He worked in  private legal practice in Minot, ND until his judgeship in 2009. 

Bradley A. Cruff

District Court Judge

Elected: 2012 - Present

Judge Cruff was elected as District Court Judge in 2012 for the Southeast Judicial District judgeship #3 located in Wahpeton, ND.  

Born in 1964; Judge Cruff is a native of Valley City, ND.   Judge Cruff was raised on the family farm and ranch at rural Rogers, North Dakota. He attended Barnes County North High School graduating in 1982.   He graduated from Valley City State College in 1986; and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1994. He was admitted to the N.D. Bar on October 5, 1994.

After graduation, Judge Cruff became an associate at the Carol S. Nelson law firm of Valley City. He was elected and served on as the Valley City Municipal Judge from 1996-1998 at which time the Nelson and Lenaburg, Fitzner, Hooper firms merged and he served in the capacity of Assistant City Attorney for Valley City. He was elected the Barnes County Commissioner in 1998 and served until 2002.

In 2000 Judge Cruff became a partner in the firm of Lenaburg, Fitzner, Nelson, Hooper & Cruff. In 2005, he served briefly as City Attorney for Valley City before being appointed as the Barnes County State’s Attorney where he practiced as a prosecutor until he was elected to the bench.  

Georgia Dawson

District Court Judge

Elected: 1995 - 2010

Born in 1949. BA, University of North Dakota, 1971, J.D., University of North Dakota 1974. Private practice in Jamestown, ND 1971-85; private practice, Fargo, ND 1986-88; Assistant State's Attorney, Stutsman County, ND 1974-76. Assistant City Attorney, Jamestown, ND 1977-78. City Attorney, Jamestown, ND 1977-85; Special Assistant Attorney General 1978-86; Attorney Jamestown Public Schools and outlying districts 1978-87; Cass County Judge 1988-94. Elected East Central Judicial District Judge in 1994, 1996, 2002 and 2008. Retired as District Judge September 1, 2010. Married. Three children.