Law Library closed to walk-in patrons until further notice

Effective immediately, the Law Library and Legal Self Help Center are closed to all walk-in traffic until further notice. They will continue to provide services by phone and email.

Court web and network interruptions likely Thursday

The state Information Technology Department will be upgrading network software Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be intermittent interruptions to court network services, including Odyssey, email, public search, and attorney access.

Amendments to procedural rules effective March 1

Effective March 1, the Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Appellate Procedure, Evidence and Court.

Job Announcement - Supreme Court Law Clerks

A job announcement for five law clerks for the 2021-2022 Supreme Court term in Bismarck has been posted.

Proposed North Dakota court rule would gather defendant race data

Bismarck Tribune: "North Dakota's court system would collect race data on criminal defendants under a rule proposed to the state Supreme Court."

February bar exam underway

The North Dakota Bar Exam began in Bismarck on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with 16 applicants taking the exam.

Self-help forms to be out soon for requesting redactions of private info in court records

Bismarck Tribune: "Self-help forms and instructions are set to be available [this] week for people to request redactions of private information from North Dakota court records."

UND Alum and N.D. Supreme Court Justice Gerald VandeWalle receives President’s Medal, other honors

UND Today: "Things often happen in threes. For North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jerry VandeWalle, who earned business and law degrees from UND in 1955 and 1958, the adage proved true on [Feb. 4]."

Justice Gerald VandeWalle honored by the UND Alumni Association

KFYR News: "Justice Gerald VandeWalle was the center of North Dakota law for more than 60 years. Tuesday night, he was honored by the University of North Dakota and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation."

Online access to Supreme Court documents available since before 2000

KX News: "[T]he North Dakota Supreme Court has been allowing online access to certain documents since the late 1990s. This includes opinions dated back to the 1960s, briefs from about 1998 forward and some rules dating back to the mid-90s."

Chief Justice visits Marmot School students

Chief Justice Jon J. Jensen recently made two visits with students at the Marmot School located at the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan.

Supreme Court suspends remote access to court records

Effective Jan. 8, 2020, the Supreme Court has temporarily suspended remote online access to court records by anonymous users. This includes remote access to district court documents and expanded remote access to Supreme Court documents.

Fargo Inn of Court celebrates women's right to vote

On Dec. 10, Supreme Court Justice Lisa Fair McEvers and East Central Judicial District Judge Stephannie N. Stiel participated in a program organized by the Ronald N. Davies American Inn of Court in recognition of the 100 year anniversary of women’s right to vote.

Job Announcement - Director of Technology

A job announcement for Director of Technology with the Office of State Court Administrator in Bismarck has been posted.

Jensen ready to get to work as new North Dakota Supreme Court chief justice

Bismarck Tribune: "Jon Jensen likes the courtroom. That's a good trait for the new chief justice of North Dakota's Supreme Court."

State Supreme Court clerk retiring after 31 years

Bismarck Tribune: "The woman who is just the fourth clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court is retiring at the end of the year. Penny Miller took the position July 1, 1992, and has seen the office and the state's court system through many changes."

Justice Jensen elected Chief

Ballots were counted Dec. 12 in the election for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Jon J. Jensen was chosen to replace Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle commencing Jan. 1, 2020.

Lawyer licenses expire Dec. 31

The State Board of Law Examiners reminds lawyers that 2019 licenses to practice law in North Dakota expire Dec. 31 regardless of when the 2019 license fee was paid. Lawyers should watch their mail for the 2020 billing in the coming weeks and promptly pay the fee by check or money order.

Clerk of N.D. Supreme Court says goodbye after 31 years

KX Net: "There’s not a lot of turnover in the offices of North Dakota’s highest court. Only four people have served as Clerk of the Supreme Court since North Dakota became a state in 1889."

Justice Jensen teaches at Law Enforcement Training Center

On Dec. 6, Justice Jon J. Jensen spoke during the North Dakota Basic law enforcement course at the North Dakota Law Enforcement Training Center about the structure and function of the state's judicial system.

Second vote set in Chief Justice election

Ballots in the election for Chief Justice were opened Nov. 25. Because no candidate received a majority of the votes cast, there will be a second vote between Justice Jon Jensen and Justice Lisa Fair McEvers.

Pro hac vice fee payments due Jan. 1

Under Rule 3, Admission to Practice rules, lawyers who continue to appear in 2020 in a North Dakota proceeding for which they have already filed a motion for pro hac vice admission are required to pay a fee of $380 by January 1, 2020.

3 justices will contend for top job on North Dakota Supreme Court

G.F. Herald: "Justices Daniel Crothers, Lisa Fair McEvers and Jon Jensen filed paperwork before the midnight deadline on Wednesday, Nov. 6, to vie for the top position on the five-member court, according to state court administrator Sally Holewa."