Notice of Consultation Wednesday, June 3, 2015

IN THE SUPREME COURT 
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

NOTICE OF CONSULTATION

Supreme Court No. 20150160 

In the Matter of the Vacancy in Judgeship No. 3, with Chambers in Bottineau, North Dakota, Northeast Judicial District 

[1] On May 29, 2015, Governor Jack Dalrymple notified this Court of the resignation and retirement of the Honorable Michael Sturdevant, Judge of the District Court, Northeast Judicial District, effective September 1, 2015. Under N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1 a vacancy in the office of district judge will be created upon Judge Sturdevant’s retirement.

[2] Within 90 days after the notification of the vacancy, N.D.C.C. § 27-05-02.1 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. The Supreme Court considered the matter, and

[3] ORDERED, the Supreme Court undertake a written consultation with the attorneys and judges of the Northeast 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 July 3, 2015.

[4] It is expected the Supreme Court will receive a report discussing the factors under N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 7.2, Section 4, for each of the counties in the Northeast Judicial District from the Trial Court Administrator for Unit 1. Written comments may be e-mailed to Penny Miller, Clerk of the Supreme Court, at supclerkofcourt@ndcourts.gov, 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Bismarck, ND 58505-0530.

[5] Entered the 3rd day of June, 2015, at the direction of the Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle, Chief Justice; and the Honorable Dale V. Sandstrom, the Honorable Carol Ronning Kapsner and the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers, Justices. The Honorable Lisa Fair McEvers, Justice, was unavoidably absent and did not participate.

Penny Miller 
Clerk 
North Dakota Supreme Court