M. Richard Geiger

Judge Geiger was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1951 and was raised in Cavalier, North Dakota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Dakota State University in 1973 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1979. He was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on October 10, 1979. Following law school, Judge Geiger engaged in private practice in Grafton, North Dakota, from 1979 to 1987.

Judge Geiger began his judicial career in 1987 when he was elected to the county bench, serving Walsh, Pembina, and Cavalier Counties. He was re-elected to a second term and served through 1994. In 1994, he was elected District Court Judge for the Northeast Judicial District. He was subsequently re-elected in 2000, 2006, and 2012, and was chambered in Grafton throughout his tenure. Judge Geiger retired on September 30, 2017.

Judge Geiger served as president of the Northeast Judicial District Bar Association from 1990 to 1992 and, during that same period, served on the State Bar Association of North Dakota Board of Governors.

Judge Geiger chaired the task force responsible for publication of the North Dakota Trial Court Bench Book in 1994 and served as its editor until his retirement in 2017. He also served as both a member and chair of the Personnel Policy Board. In addition, he served as chair of the North Dakota Judicial Conference from 2011 to 2012, president of the North Dakota Judges Association from 2007 to 2008, and Presiding Judge for the Northeast Judicial District from 2001 to 2007.

In 2018, Judge Geiger received the State Bar Association of North Dakota Distinguished Service Award.

Following his retirement, Judge Geiger served one term as a surrogate judge. During that time, he also chaired the Judicial Ethics Advisory Commission. Judge Geiger is married and has one child.