Marina Spahr Biographical Information Monday, July 15, 2019
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND
I have spent the last 25 years practicing civil and criminal law on a daily basis, both in private practice and within a government setting. I routinely work with justices, judges, attorneys, county commissions, government departments, co-workers, law enforcement officers, victims and families. I have been both an employer and employee. My trial skills are exemplary because I pay careful attention to the law, rules of evidence, presentation, organization, research and writing. I appear in court daily. As a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney I make high level, impartial, decisions that adhere to the laws of North Dakota. This has all been done with a passion for excellence and gratitude for having the good fortune to practice law as my profession.
SUMMARY OF EDUCATION
High School Diploma from Clavet Composite High School, Clavet, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1984
Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1989
Juris Doctor Degree, With Distinction, from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1992
Admitted to Practice Law in North Dakota in 1994, North Dakota Bar ID #05068
Certified Divorce Mediator, Erickson Mediation Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2008
Completed Parenting Coordinator Training, Bismarck, North Dakota in 2009
Over 600 Hours of Multistate Continuing Legal Education Courses Including Advanced Mediation Courses
SUMMARY OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Burleigh County, North Dakota, December 2015 to Present
Elder Abuse Trainer for Law Enforcement Agencies, September 2016 to Present
Attorney in Private Practice, Murphy & Spahr Law and Spahr Law, Carrington and Cooperstown, ND - Specializing in Family Law, Real Estate, Probate, Estate Planning, Contracts, Adoptions, Guardianships, Conservatorships – May 1994 to December 2015
Contracted Family Mediation Program Mediator for the Southeast and Southwest Judicial Districts of North Dakota – Mediated over 100 cases from August 2009 to December 2015
Contracted Indigent Defense Attorney for Stutsman County, North Dakota - December 2014 to December 2015
Pembina County Interim State’s Attorney and Assistant State’s Attorney – February 2014 to February 2015
Wells County Assistant State’s Attorney, July 2013 to December 2014
Griggs County State’s Attorney and Assistant State’s Attorney, January 1999 to December 2001 and May 2010 to November 2013
Steele County State’s Attorney – 2000 to 2001
Special Assistant State’s Attorney for Barnes County, Eddy County, Foster County, McLean County and Ward County – on an as needed basis
More than 70 Civil and Criminal Bench and Jury Trials, May 1994 to Present
19 North Dakota Supreme Court Appearances
Appeared in 6 of the 8 Judicial Districts in North Dakota
ORGANIZATIONS
State Bar Association of ND, ND Association of Counties, ND State’s Attorneys’ Association, Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center Board Member, Secretary of the BISMAN Junior Curling Booster Club
HOBBIES
Women’s Slow Pitch, Ballroom Dance, Reading, Camping, Photography, Hiking, Travelling