Judge Traynor takes seat on U.S. District Court bench Wednesday, January 22, 2020

U.S. District Court News Release

Daniel Mack Traynor has been appointed to the position of United States District Judge for the District of North Dakota.

On January 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed the commission formally appointing Traynor to the position.  North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Gerald VandeWalle gave the oath of office to Judge Traynor in a private ceremony attended by the Traynor family and court staff.

Traynor earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Dakota and his Juris Doctor, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he served as an Associate Editor on the North Dakota Law Review.  Upon graduation from law school, Traynor served as a law clerk to then-Chief Justice VandeWalle.   From 1998–2019, was in private practice at the Traynor Law Firm in Devils Lake, North Dakota, where his practice focused on insurance defense, personal injury, and business litigation.

On August 28, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Traynor to serve as a United States District Judge. On September 19, 2019, his nomination was sent to the Senate. On December 19, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a vote of the Senate.

Judge Traynor’s chambers are located in the Federal Courthouse at Bismarck.  Judge Traynor was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Daniel L. Hovland, who assumed senior status on November 10, 2019.