Penny Miller advised the Justices in July that she will be retiring as Clerk of the Supreme Court at the end of the year. Miller has served as Clerk of the Supreme Court for the State of North Dakota since July 1, 1992.   She is the fourth clerk in the history of the state.

Miller received her J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1985, and a B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from UND in 1981.  Following graduation from law school, Miller worked as the Communications Director for the State Bar Association of North Dakota, and in 1988 she was hired as Chief Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court.

As Clerk, Miller also serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the North Dakota State Board of Law Examiners, Secretary of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of North Dakota, and as a member of the Judicial Conference and the State Canvassing Board.  Throughout her tenure with the Court, she has also served on a number of standing and ad hoc committees for the Court regarding personnel, lawyer admission and regulation, various technology used throughout the judicial system, and improvement of the judicial system.

Miller has also been nationally involved with the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks and the Council of Bar Admissions Administrators, and has served in executive positions for both organizations. In 2001-2002, after serving on and chairing many committees, Miller was elected President of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks. In 2004, for her dedication and commitment to the objectives of the Conference, she was awarded the J.O. Sentell Award, which is the highest recognition that organization gives to a member. In 2008-2009, after serving on several committees, Miller served as Chair of the Council of Bar Admissions Administrators, and received recognition in 2012 as an outstanding bar admissions administrator by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Miller also served on a National Center for State Courts Consulting Advisory Committee.

The Court has named Petra Mandigo Hulm, current Chief Deputy Clerk, as Miller’s successor effective January 1, 2020.