Criminal Matters – Legal Research
Overview
The purpose of legal research includes:
- Determining your legal rights and responsibilities.
- Helping you understand your situation or legal issue.
- Finding legal authority to support your side of a case.
- Finding legal authority to challenge the other party’s side in a case.
Legal research is an essential function a lawyer performs as part of legal representation of a client. A self-represented individual performs all of the functions of a lawyer for themselves.
If you represent yourself, you’ll need to conduct your own legal research, determine the appropriate procedures, and create your own legal documents. You may also retain a lawyer to assist you with all or part of your legal representation.
The North Dakota Supreme Court Law Library can help you with your legal research. The legal research assistance Law Library staff can give you is listed here.
The North Dakot Legal Self Help Center can't provide assistance with legal research or court process in criminal matters. The Center doesn’t have forms, procedures, or expertise in court process in criminal matters.
Forms and Guides
North Dakota Legal Self Help Center forms aren’t official court forms and courts aren’t required to accept them. There’s no guarantee that all judges and courts will accept forms available through the Center. Use at your own risk.
Forms aren't available for every legal issue or circumstance. If you don't find the form on this website, the form isn't available through the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center. You may need to create your own legal documents.
Forms:
- Post Conviction Relief Petition
- Prohibit Public Access to Criminal Court Records Request
- Restitution Hearing Request (Municipal Court)
- Restitution Hearing Request (District Court)
Informational Guides:
Research Guides:
- Expungement Research Guide
- Sealing Criminal Records Research Guide
- Sealing DUI Records Research Guide
Other Resources
Selected Statutes (Laws) & Rules
Following are legal research starting points related to criminal matters. You may need to conduct additional legal research into your legal issue. See the Legal Research Section of this website.
- Title 12.1 of the North Dakota Century Code
- Title 29 of the North Dakota Century Code
- Title 39 of the North Dakota Century Code
- Chapter 39-08 of the North Dakota Century Code
- The North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure
- The North Dakota Rules of Evidence
- The North Dakota Rules of Court
If you don't understand any of this information, or if you have trouble filling out any of the forms located here, please see a lawyer for help.
The information provided on and obtained from this site doesn't constitute the official record of the Court. This information is provided as a service to the general public. Any user of this information is hereby advised that it is being provided "as is". The information provided may be subject to errors or omissions. Visitors to this site agree that the Court isn't liable for errors or omissions of any of the information provided.
If you have a question relating to a case that is already filed contact the clerk of court for the county.