Notice of Consultation Wednesday, October 8, 2014

IN THE SUPREME COURT 
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 

[¶ 1] On October 7, 2014, Governor Jack Dalrymple notified Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle of the October 4, 2014, death of the Honorable Karen K. Braaten, Judge of the District Court, Northeast Central Judicial District. Judge Braaten�s death creates a vacancy under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1 which requires the Supreme Court to determine whether the office is necessary for effective judicial administration. The Supreme Court may order that: (1) the vacancy be filled; (2) the vacant office be transferred to a judicial district in which an additional judge is necessary for effective judicial administration; or (3) the vacant office be abolished with or without transfer of a district judgeship to any location in which a judge is necessary for effective judicial administration.

[¶ 2] On September 10, 2014, the Court issued a Notice of Consultation in Supreme Court No. 20140310, Vacancy in Judgeship No. 1, with Chambers in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Northeast Central Judicial District, due to the resignation of the Honorable Sonja Clapp. The comment period in t hat matter was to expire October 10, 2014. We extend the comment period in that matter, and set the comment period in this matter, to expire October 17, 2014.

[¶ 3] ORDERED, for the purposes of the consultation contemplated under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1, the notice of written consultation with attorneys and judges and other interested persons, this matter will be considered with the vacancy created by Judge Clapp�s resignation in Supreme Court No. 20140310.

[¶ 4] ORDERED, the Supreme Court undertake a written consultation with the attorneys and judges of the Northeast Central Judicial District on this matter under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2. Any person wishing to comment on the vacancy may do so in writing no later than October 17, 2014.

[¶ 5] Entered the 8th day of October, 2014, at the direction of the Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chief Justice, and the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner, the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers and the Honorable Lisa Fair McEvers, Justices. Justice Dale V. Sandstrom, being unavoidably absent, did not participate in the decision.

Petra H. Mandigo Hulm
Chief Deputy Clerk
North Dakota Supreme Court