State of the Judiciary Message 1999 Wednesday, January 6, 1999
By Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle
Wednesday, January 6, 1999
Good Afternoon. I am pleased to again be given the opportunity to appear before you and present the message on the State of the Judiciary. One of the Chief Justices from another State who does not currently have this privilege asked me if I thought it was worthwhile. I told him I thought it was but he really should ask the legislators who sit and listen what they thought.
Warren Burger in a speech several years before he became Chief Justice said "Had Rip VanWinkle gone away and come back today . . . and if he went into the courts, the principal changes he would have observed would have been the wearing apparel, the increased number of judges and the air conditioning. Most of the rest would be the same as when he began his legendary exile in the Catskill Mountains."
Last May I spoke to the finalists in the Know Your State competition at the University of Mary and reviewed briefly the history of the North Dakota Judicial System. I observed that, compared to the legislative and executive branches, the Judiciary had undergone extensive substantial change since Statehood. I told them:
"The Judiciary . . . has undergone extensive structural change; the increase of the Supreme Court bench from three to five being a minor change. This State at one time, not all that long ago, had a substantial number of judicial officers - judges who were not law trained. Although the Constitution provided for the supreme court judges and district court judges, the district court being the general trial court, to be 'learned in the law,' the Constitution authorized the legislature to create a large number of limited jurisdiction judges to handle the day-to-day kind of minor legal issues that arise. Most notable were the justices of the peace, few of whom were law trained. Every county, organized civil township, city, or village was authorized to have a justice of the peace, and most did at one time. Their jurisdiction was limited and they were paid from the fees and fines they collected, a practice later found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. We had some very good lay justices of the peace. Unfortunately there were some who were interested only in the fees.
"In addition, every county had a county judge who handled probate matters, most of whom were also not law trained, and, a few counties had county courts with increased jurisdiction who were law trained. There were also city judges and police magistrates, many of whom were not law trained.
"After a bitter debate over the use of non law-trained judges over several legislative sessions, the Legislature in 1959 abolished the justice of the peace effective July 1, 1961, and instituted a system of county justice courts which called for law trained judges. Since that time there has been a somewhat consistent reorganization and restructuring of the trial court system until today we have only one level of trial courts instead of the three that previously existed. The result was a change from a system of literally hundreds of part-time and full-time judges, to a point where, by years end, we will have 43 full-time law trained trial judges. By law we are required to have just 42 trial judges in the entire State by January 1, 2001. This excludes only city judges whose jurisdiction is limited to violation of city ordinances. So the third branch, the judicial branch, has undergone by far the greatest transformation since statehood."
If Chief Justice Burger were to come back today, at least to the Courts of North Dakota, he would have to retract his words. Our attire may be different, we - at least many of us - have air conditioning, but our number of judges has decreased and much of the rest is also changing. I want to discuss with you some of those recent changes and plan for future changes.
Standing before you two years ago, I ended this message on the State of the Judiciary by quoting the words of former Justice of the United States Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall: "We must never forget that the only real source of power that we as judges can tap is the respect of the people." The Conference of Chief Justices recognized that public trust and confidence in the integrity and responsiveness of the court system is essential to the fulfillment of the mission of the judiciary. In cooperation with the American Bar Association, the Chief Justices called for a national symposium on the subject of public trust and confidence. Each State is to form a Committee and generate topics for the national symposium. The North Dakota Committee - some 21 people from all walks of life - is chaired by Justice William Neumann. I have charged this Committee to give us its recommendations for improving the public's trust in the rule of law. We have already learned we are not doing enough to inform and educate our people as to our system of justice. Once we receive the Committee's recommendations, we will share this with you and ask your support in implementing them to the end that the public, although not necessarily agreeing with every judicial decision, will nevertheless have confidence in the system of justice which produced that decision.
In 1997, in addition to an interim study you approved at my request, through provisions in the appropriations bill for the judicial branch of government, you also charged us with recommending through our budget the funding necessary to efficiently fund administration of the district courts including provisions relating to the Clerk of Court. It came at the time the State is engaged in transferring the collection and remitting of child support payments from the Clerk of Court to the State Human Services Department.
Without hesitation I tell you the Clerk of Courts issue is the most publicly contentious issue to come before the Court in the 20 years I have served on the Court. We sought a study through the National Center for State Courts. That study was a lightening rod which drew much opposition. As a result, the Court, the Bar, and the Interim Judiciary Committee sought the services of the North Dakota Consensus Council for the purpose of seeking some common ground on the matter of Clerk of Court and the delivery of services to the various counties. That process resulted in a bill which I understand will be introduced into the Session by individual legislators. The bill is not a perfect solution to many of us, but I believe it may be the best accommodation of the various interests which we can presently achieve. It leaves some county options, while empowering the Court to determine that adequate services are being provided. The price tag is not cheap. Although there are some one-time costs which we have budgeted for, the cost for the last six months of the 1999-2001 biennium when the bill will be effective is some three million dollars. Whatever happens with this legislation, if you determine to materially change the direction, I ask that you do so in consultation with the Clerks of Court, the County Commissioners, the Bar, and our Court.
In the Judicial Branch appropriation bill for this biennium the Legislature substantially changed the funding for the disciplinary system to require that each lawyer licensed in this State pay a fee of $50.00 for the discipline system in 1998 and $75.00 for 1999 and each year thereafter and reduced the general fund appropriation. The staff for the disciplinary board also serve as the staff of the Judicial Conduct Commission. Because of the appearance that the Court could attempt to control the staff activities in the disciplining of judges, if not lawyers, the Court does not directly oversee the activities of the Disciplinary Board or the Judicial Conduct Commission. On petition of the Joint Attorneys Standards Committee, the Court created an Operations Committee composed of one member or former member of the Disciplinary Board, one member or former member of the Judicial Conduct Commission, and one member of the Board of Governors. The State Court Administrator serves ex officio as a non voting member. The Operations Committee is responsible for the fiscal management of the lawyer disciplinary system. The budget we have submitted reflects the amount expected to be paid by licensed lawyers and an amount to pay the share of operations of the Judicial Conduct Commission. We believe the shared staff is more economical and more effective than creating a separate office, including staff, for the Judicial Conduct Commission.
Juvenile Drug Court Planning Committee
The Supreme Court through its Juvenile Policy Board established a Juvenile Drug Court Planning Committee in October of 1998. Chaired by Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, the committee consists of sixteen members from across the state. Each provides a unique perspective in evaluating this new and exciting project. The mission of the committee is to study juvenile drug courts already in place in other regions of the country, and to recommend whether a pilot drug court should be implemented in one of the judicial districts in North Dakota.
Topics the committee is studying to determine whether North Dakota should establish a drug court pilot project include: how juvenile drug courts operate; North Dakota juvenile drug and alcohol statistics; current processing of juvenile cases in North Dakota; public and private treatment services available in North Dakota; the role of the Department of Corrections in providing treatment to juvenile offenders; the role of the Department of Health in dealing with at risk youth; law enforcement involvement with juvenile drug abusers; and the role of North Dakota schools in the area of juvenile drug and alcohol abuse.
As a result of rapidly escalating costs in bringing criminals to justice, Governor Schafer has discussed with you proposals to provide some alternatives to incarceration for certain parole violations. I applaud those efforts and I hope they foreshadow increased efforts by all of us to work together to develop sentencing alternatives.
Those increased costs of incarceration, due in part to the increased number of convictions, are reflective of the increase in costs of criminal defense. When the Legislature increases the penalty for a crime or makes mandatory a specific sentence for a person convicted of a crime, the cost to enforce those penalties increases correspondingly. Costs for counsel for indigent defendants continue to rise in greater proportion than most other costs of the judicial branch. Our budget contains a request for a 10% increase for this purpose over last biennium. The requested increases were considerably greater but the Council of Presiding Judges, at the request of the Court, reduced the requested increase in half.
Not surprisingly, by far the greater number of people who are defendants in criminal actions are indigent. I suggested two years ago the time is coming when together we must examine whether a public defender office should be established to provide legal defense to indigent people accused of a crime. I doubt a government agency could assume the services as economically as our current contract system, but escalating costs appear to be a problem which will not abate and all alternatives should be considered so we have the most effective and most economical indigent defense system possible.
Last session you enacted legislation which provided more funds for delivery of civil legal services to the poor. I thank you for the increase you authorized for the civil legal services fund. These are people accused of no wrong doing; rather they are people who have legal problems - like the general public. In some instances those problems are greater and more acute because of their poverty. That increase, resulting from raising the amount of the filing fee deposited to the Civil Legal Services Fund from $10.00 to $15.00, has so far this biennium made an additional $5,000 per month available. This is particularly significant since the program using Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) to fund legal services is in jeopardy under a recent ruling of the United States Supreme Court. Although no state having IOLTA has yet discontinued the program as a result of the ruling, we are aware that the final outcome of the litigation arising out of Texas could result in changes to the program.
You have taken steps in past sessions to protect the victims of domestic violence through such methods as authorizing courts to require the surrender of firearms and authorizing a law enforcement officer to arrest without a warrant upon probable cause that the perpetrator is violating an order prohibiting contact between the perpetrator and victim. Unfortunately, the incidents of domestic violence continue to increase and continue to form a major portion of crimes of violence in North Dakota. Those incidents do not always involve only adults. Increasingly they include violence by children against parents or parents against children, sometimes babies. We have recommended for your consideration a bill relating to recognition and enforcement of foreign domestic violence protection orders, that is orders issued by another State, a tribal court, the District of Columbia or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. This legislation sets the statutory structure for implementing the full faith and credit requirements of federal law. I ask your favorable approval in this fight to protect the population of North Dakota from this scourge.
Important as is the need to isolate perpetrators and protect victims, I urge you to also examine the phenomenon to determine if there is something we as a government can do to prevent the abuse before it happens. Last session you approved a resolution to establish a task force to study the matter but it was not finally selected as a study project. I understand your human and financial resources, like that of the judicial branch, are limited. However, I hope you will again consider a study. The low prices for farm commodities, the low price for oil and the threat to our lignite industry will only increase the stress many of our people face. Stress is not an excuse nor is it by any means the only factor in domestic violence, but it is a factor and we may see yet a continued level in domestic violence.
Two years ago I reported to you that a Joint Task Force on Family Law was formed following adoption of Administrative Order 5. The Task Force's charter was to review existing family law procedures, evaluate the need for changes, and make recommendations. The Task Force submitted their final report to the Supreme Court on June 10, 1998.
The Task Force recommended two statutory changes, designed to streamline divorce and child custody procedures, both of which were passed by the Fifty-Fifth Legislative Assembly. (NDCC 14-09-06.6 and 12.1-20-09) Recommendations were also made concerning expanded use of lay guardians ad litem. A mandatory training program and a draft rule are under study. The Task Force also recommended the Rules of Court be modified to provide for an eighteen month test of summary procedures in domestic relations cases. We adopted Rule 8.5 authorizing summary procedures in two districts if elected by either party and authorized by the judge. The summary procedures are designed to resolve the case in a spirit of cooperation. Unfortunately only about 25 couples consented to the summary procedures during the eighteen month test period. These cases typically involved only the husband and wife with no children. Although the participation rate was less than anticipated, the judges who participated remain enthused.
On August 26, 1998, I sent a letter to the Presiding Judges in the Northeast Central Judicial District, Southeast Judicial District and South Central Judicial District authorizing them to each develop a local rule for family law mediation. It is my belief that mediation can provide a valuable alternative in family law cases. It is my hope that we will gain valuable experience and knowledge as a result of these pilot programs.
Joint Dispute Resolution Study Committee
In 1995, as a part of a health care reform bill, you appropriated money to the Supreme Court for a study of alternative dispute resolution options, including health care malpractice claims. We established a Joint Dispute Resolution Study Committee and, after numerous meetings, the Committee submitted its final report on June 30, 1998. The Committee is recommending changes to Rule 16, N.D.R.Civ.P., and the adoption of two new North Dakota Rules of Court to promote and facilitate the use of alternative dispute resolution processes.
The proposals of the Joint Dispute Resolution Study Committee have been referred to the Joint Procedure Committee for further study and recommendation to the Court.
The new provisions implement case-management techniques to encourage consideration of ADR in the early stages of litigation and to encourage attorneys and courts to educate the parties about ADR. The proposals also establish qualifications for mediators and provide for a court maintained roster of private mediators. The new provisions do not explicitly require the use of ADR, but they promote and encourage ADR and I believe we should continue to seek methods of providing quality alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to litigants at the lowest cost available.
Our program to eliminate gender bias in the judicial branch continues. A Committee to implement the recommendations of the North Dakota Commission on Gender Fairness in the Courts has been established. That Committee, chaired by Justice Mary Maring, is most active and has produced a handbook, A Judges Guide to Gender Fair Court Proceedings, as well as several educational programs. We are far from perfect in this area but I believe we have made substantial progress toward our goal of gender fairness.
In past State of the Judiciary presentations, I have carefully avoided boring you with detailed caseload statistics. I don't intend to change at this point but, since we have combined the county courts and district courts and reduced the total number of judges from 53 to 43, a few general observations may be in order.
Comparing 1995, the first year of court consolidation, to 1997, the most recent year for which we have statistics, we see a four percent increase in case filings in district court. Civil filings continue to decrease each year. The drop from 1995 to 1997 is 4.8%. Criminal filings continue to increase each year. The increase from 1995 to 1997 is 8.7%. As a general observation, the district court workload increases at about two percent per year.
It is a statistical fact that your district court judges are doing "more with less." I am very proud of how they have met the challenge to manage an increasing workload with ten fewer judges than we had in 1991. We must all watch to insure this does not lead to shortcuts at the expense of justice or diminished service to the people of North Dakota. This is not the case at the present time.
Like other elected and appointed officials, Judges salaries are significantly behind the salaries of Judges in many States in our area. Our Judiciary budget request for the next biennium includes a request for 5% salary increase in 1999 and in 2000 for judges and justices. This increase will return some salary compatibility with state judges in other states. In evaluating our request, I ask that you consider the savings which will be returned to the General Fund from three judgeships abolished in the 1997/99 biennium. These savings amount to $316,000 in the current biennium alone. It seems only fair that the judges who are picking up the additional workload from the reduction in the number of judges should receive some reward for their additional workload.
Two years ago I reported our initiative to develop programming changes that will permit criminal judgments to be entered into a computer in the courtroom with direct entry into the court's information system, UCIS. We have now developed a format that is compatible with the States Attorney Management System, SAMS. Data will soon be available for electronic transmission to the states attorney's office upon request, providing their system is on the same AS400 as UCIS. Our next step is to find a way for AS400s to talk to each other so the data can be shared by all with a need. We are optimistic this can be accomplished. This will eliminate double entry, improve accuracy and save time. It will also assist the state in complying with federal mandates for data sharing.
All chambers are connected and have access to e-mail, the Web and the Court's automated information system. Docket management and case scheduling are available to all judges through UCIS except Cass County, where the judges have access to a related county funded program. Several non-chambered counties have requested similar connections. We would like to provide this service, but we are unable to do so because of current staffing limitations. We do not want to expand our system beyond what we can support.
Justice Dale Sandstrom continues to receive acclaim for his Supreme Court web site. This piece of technology has become a significant search engine for lawyers and an important source of court information for the public.
In addition to the bill concerning full faith and credit to be given to domestic violence protection orders issued by tribal courts and courts of other States, which I have already discussed, we ask your favorable consideration of the following legislation.
In 1987 you enacted legislation in accord with Article VI, section 1 and 6 of the North Dakota Constitution, establishing a temporary Court of Appeals composed of Surrogate and District Court Judges to which the Supreme Court can assign cases on appeal and whose decisions can be reviewed in the discretion of the Supreme Court. That legislation contained a sunset clause which you extended in 1989, 1993 and 1995. We ask you to extend that authority for another four years. We did not assign cases to the Court of Appeals for several years but with the advent of Justice Meschke's retirement, when four of us assumed the opinion writing until our new colleague joined the bench, and faced with an increasing caseload, we have in this past year called five panels of the Court of Appeals. This tool helps us to manage our caseload without a permanent intermediate appellate court and has proven valuable over the years when illness, resignation, retirement, or a sudden increase in appellate cases have occurred.
We discovered during the 1997 flood in Grand Forks County that when a natural disaster occurs it may be difficult to call a jury because the populace has been displaced from their residences. We ask authority be given the Supreme Court to authorize the district court in the affected county to call qualified jurors from other counties in the district when a natural disaster impairs the selection of a sufficient number of prospective jurors in the county.
Disability and Survivor Benefits
Two tragic events this biennium, the accidental death of one of our judges and the onset of a debilitating illness of another judge, brought vividly to our attention the obvious fact the disability and survivor benefits under the judge's retirement program are not adequate. We support a bill introduced at the request of the Public Employees Retirement System to improve those benefits. We also ask you continue the past retirement adjustments for judges you authorized in the last legislative session.
Justice Herbert Meschke retired October 1, 1998. His contribution to the Supreme Court and to the legal precedents established by the Court is significant. We miss him. We welcomed to the Court on November 1, 1998, Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner, who has already established herself as a worthy replacement.
Last session you approved the submission of a Constitutional Amendment providing that an appointment to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court or District Court must continue for at least two years and that if the term of the appointed judgeship expires before the judge has served at least two years, the judge will continue to serve until the next general election immediately following the service of two years. That Amendment was approved by a substantial margin due in large part to the efforts of members of the Bar.
I note in mourning, the untimely death of Judge James Wright of Jamestown on November 4, 1997. Judge Wright was a person of quality, of intelligence, of honor and wit, and of superb judicial temperament.
Since I last spoke to you we have eliminated three more judgeships. The judgeship held by Judge Wright at the time of his death was not filled. Judge William Hodny of Mandan retired March 11, 1998, and Judge Wallace Berning of Minot retired December 31, 1998. These positions were not filled. In addition to Judges' Hodny and Berning, Judge Dennis Schneider of Bismarck retired for health reasons. Judge Robert Wefald was elected to that judgeship. Judge Laurie Fontaine replaced Judge Thomas Metelmann in the Northeast Judicial District. As of today, we have 43 trial court judges in all of North Dakota hearing cases involving non-criminal traffic violations and small claims to the most serious criminal felony cases and the most complex civil litigation. We are to be at 42 judges by January 1, 2001.
On the lighter side, as we prepare for a new century, I thought I would review a copy of the Session Laws of 1899 to see what the "hot button" topics were 100 years ago as they prepared for the 20th Century. A resolution urging Congress to provide pension for union workers of the Civil War, the establishment of a twine plant at the Penitentiary, grasshoppers, noxious weeds, education, highways, and a bill requiring a continuance of cases when an attorney in the case is a member of the Legislature or any party to the pending case is a member, were topics of the day. Interestingly, there was a bill codified as Chapter 64, of the 1889 S.L., which provided that the salaries of the Clerk of Court were to be regulated by the value of the property in the county as fixed by the Board of Equalization. The fees charged by the Clerk were to be deposited in a fund out of which the Clerk's salary was to be paid. Of even greater interest, the bill contained a clause declaring an emergency because "Whereas, by existing law the various counties of the state are not sufficiently reimbursed for the salaries paid to clerks of the District Court and it is essential that said counties be relieved as soon as practicable . . . ." There are some matters which are constants!
In scanning the House Journal for the 1899 Session, I noted that Governor Devine, who became Governor in August 1898 on the death of Governor Briggs, gave a State of the State Message followed by an inaugural address by Governor-elect Fancher. Governor Devine had some interesting comments on finances: "The condition of the state treasury is one easily comprehended. We have awakened to the realization of the simple fact that disbursements are in excess of receipts." He went on to say that as a state we "have been somewhat reckless and careless in our appropriations of the public funds" (certainly no one will accuse the present day Legislature of that action) and that in "originating and supporting educational, charitable, reformatory and other institutions and supposed needs, have led us too far away from our resources."
Governor Devine had one other message you might find of interest. He said: "It is not the volume but the merit of the laws enacted that will measure the wisdom of your proceedings. Acts of indifferent merit that meet no public demand; introduce no reform, will work an unintentional injury. Such acts, without preserving sufficient demerit to provoke an early repeal, lower the character of our statutes and add confusion to the perplexities of our laws." Thank goodness he didn't have anything to say about opinions of the Supreme Court!
Notwithstanding Governor Devine, in a more serious vein in closing, what you do in this legislative session will affect not only our State for the next two years, your actions in these next three months will affect the generations to come. I pledge the cooperation of the judicial branch as you chart our State's destiny.
I conclude with another statement from Warren Burger. "Like generals who have had no wars for a generation are out of practice, we judges have perhaps been sluggish in responding to the new way of trying legal and factual issues. But in time we do respond."
The Council of Presiding Judges consists of the presiding judge of each of the seven judicial districts with the chief justice as chairman. The members of the Council are: Chief Justice VandeWalle, Presiding Judges Benny A. Graff, Allan L. Schmalenberger, Lee A. Christofferson, John T. Paulson, Norman J. Backes, Lawrence E. Jahnke and Robert W. Holte.
The Council of Presiding Judges works primarily with caseloads and court administration. Its charter is to ensure that the business of the courts is handled with dispatch and efficiency. The Council meets at the call of the chair, normally each month. In attendance at each of the meetings is the state court administrator, the two assistant directors of the trial courts, and on occasion the district court administrative assistants.
In the North Dakota judicial system, a system of committees has been established to develop creative new ideas and evaluate proposals for improving public services. Representative of the people of North Dakota, these advisory committees include citizen members, legislators, lawyers, district court judges, municipal court judges, and members of the Supreme Court.
Judicial Planning Committee
The Judicial Planning Committee, is chaired by Justice William A. Neumann. The committee identifies, describes, and clarifies problem areas in the judiciary. Plans are then developed and, after approval by the Supreme Court, are referred to judicial leaders and other standing committees for planning guidance.
Joint Procedure Committee
The Joint Procedure Committee is the standing committee of the Supreme Court responsible for proposing adoption, amendment, or repeal of rules of civil procedure, rules of criminal procedure, rules of appellate procedure, rules of evidence, rules of court, and specialized court procedure. Justice Sandstrom chairs the committee.
Among other projects, the committee is studying reforms to activate and empower jurors such as by allowing juror questions, note taking, predeliberation discussion, preliminary substantive jury instructions, and assistance for jurors at impasse. The committee also recently approved two new rules defining the role and responsibilities of custody investigators and guardians ad litem.
Joint Committee on Attorney Standards
The Joint Attorney Standards Committee was established following adoption of Administrative Rule 38 by the Supreme Court. The committee, chaired by Dan Crothers of Fargo, is comprised of members appointed by the Chief Justice and the Board of Governors of the State Bar Association. During 1998, the committee completed an intensive review of rules governing the operation of the lawyer discipline system. As part of its review, the committee submitted a proposed rule, adopted by the Supreme Court, which established an Operations Committee to oversee fiscal and personnel management of the lawyer discipline system. The joint committee also submitted a series of amendments to the Rules for Lawyer Discipline which are intended to procedurally streamline the operation of the discipline system.
Judiciary Standards Committee
The Judiciary Standards Committee, chaired by Brian Neugebauer of West Fargo, studies and reviews all rules relating to the supervision of the judiciary, including judicial discipline, judicial ethics, and the judicial nominating process. During 1998, the committee, reviewed draft amendments to the Code of Judicial Conduct which were submitted by the Gender Fairness Implementation Committee. The amendments to Canon 3B(5) and (6) provide examples of gender-biased conduct to be avoided by judges and emphasize a judge's obligation to control conduct in the courtroom. The committee recommended the proposed amendments to the Supreme Court for consideration and the amendments were adopted effective June 24, 1998.
Court Services Administration Committee
The Court Services Administration Committee, chaired by William A. Strutz of Bismarck, is responsible for the study and review of all rules and orders relating to the administrative supervision of the judicial system. During 1998, the committee initiated a review of the system's administrative structure and the effectiveness and efficiency of the administrative operation of the trial courts. An appointed subcommittee is conducting this review, which will include an analysis of the present role of the Council of Presiding Judges, the Judicial Conference, and the advisory committee process.
Committee on Tribal and State Court Affairs
The Committee on Tribal and State Court Affairs was established following adoption of Administrative Rule 37 by the Supreme Court. The committee is chaired by former Chief Justice Ralph J. Erickstad and is comprised of tribal and state court judges, tribal and state court support services representatives, and public members. It is intended to provide a vehicle for expanding awareness about the operation of tribal and state court systems; identifying and discussing issues regarding court practices, procedures, and administration which are of common concern to members of the two court systems; and for cultivating mutual respect for and cooperation between tribal and state courts. During 1998, the committee developed draft legislation intended to implement the requirements of the federal Violence Against Women Act concerning full faith and credit recognition and enforcement of foreign domestic violence protection orders.
Gender Fairness Implementation Committee
The Gender Fairness Implementation Committee, chaired by Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, was established by Supreme Court Administrative Order 7 to oversee implementation of the recommendations of the Supreme Court's Commission on Gender Fairness in the Courts. It is further charged with monitoring the progress of the judicial branch in eliminating gender bias in the courts. During 1998, the committee reviewed 33 commission recommendations in six categories: professional conduct, jury service, domestic law, domestic violence, criminal law, and judicial system as employer. The committee prepared draft amendments to the Code of Judicial Conduct for consideration by the Judiciary Standards Committee, coordinated an educational program for North Dakota judges on bias in the courts, and developed a guide to gender fair court proceedings to be used by judges in meeting their obligation to ensure a bias-free court environment.
Committee on Public Trust and Confidence in the Judiciary
The Committee on Public Trust and Confidence, chaired by Justice William A. Neumann, was established in late 1998 as part of a national initiative to gauge the public's perception of court systems and identify issues that affect the public's level of trust and confidence in the courts. The committee will also form the basis for a long-term effort by the North Dakota judiciary to learn more about the needs of citizens in the area of court services and to determine how to most effectively meet those needs. The committee engaged in two extended meetings designed to identify issues and perceptions that may compromise public trust and confidence in North Dakota courts and to develop methods for addressing those concerns.
Personnel Policy Board
A single Personnel Policy Board was established following adoption of Administrative Policy 106 on July 15, 1998, by the Supreme Court. This board replaces what formerly was two boards, the Supreme Court Personnel Advisory Board and the District Court Personnel Advisory Board. The seven member board is comprised of one supreme court justice, three district court judges and four employees of the supreme and district courts. The board's primary responsibilities are resolving personnel disputes; recommending to the Supreme Court for adoption policies relating to human resources and the development of an annual salary administrative plan for the Judiciary.
Court Technology Committee
The Court Technology Committee, chaired by District Court Judge Allan Schmalenberger, Dickinson, is responsible for the planning and implementation of information technology for the Judicial Branch. The committee's coordinated efforts are responsible for consistent and efficient management of information technology resources. The committee has been improving the service and support of the information technology systems by implementing an automated help desk system, consolidating information systems, and studying and planning for the needs of the Judiciary. The committee will soon be completing a project to automate data transfers between the Attorney General's Office and the Judiciary. The committee is currently researching technologies related to interactive video conferencing and is developing a plan to ensure the Judiciary information systems are compliant with the year 2000.
The North Dakota Judicial Conference is chaired by District Judge Kirk Smith of Grand Forks. Judicial Conference committees are active in many areas.
Committee on Legislation
The Committee on Legislation, chaired by Judge Burt Riskedahl, Bismarck, drafts, reviews and tracks proposed legislation that may affect the North Dakota judicial system. During legislative sessions, the committee provides weekly reports to the members of the conference on legislation that could affect judicial services.
Committee on Judicial Compensation
The Committee on Judicial Compensation, formerly the Committee on Salary and Retirement, is co-chaired by Justice William Neumann and Judge Gary Holum of Minot. The committee monitors various proposals affecting judges' salaries and retirement benefits.
Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee
The Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee, chaired by District Judge Burt Riskedahl of Bismarck, provides advisory services for judges relating to judicial ethics issues. The committee has provided all judges with an ethics manual and responds to inquiries by judges on ethics questions. The committee also documents responses for use by all members of the judiciary.
Jury Standards Committee
The Jury Standards Committee, chaired by District Judge Robert Holte of Stanley, studies and oversees the operation of North Dakota's jury system. During 1998, the committee initiated a thorough review of the state's standards for jury use and management and its jury selection plan, as well as an analysis of issues concerning juror qualification, juror confidentiality and statistical data on the composition of prospective jury pools.
The Advisory Commission on Cameras in the Courtroom is chaired by Justice Dale V. Sandstrom and was established under Administrative Rule 21, which governs electronic and photographic coverage of court proceedings. The commission generally monitors the experience with cameras in the North Dakota Supreme Court, in district courts, and municipal courts. The committee makes recommendations to the Supreme Court regarding the application and operation of Administrative Rule 21.
The North Dakota Legal Counsel for Indigents Commission, chaired by Constance L. Triplett, Grand Forks, identifies and reviews issues concerning the operation of the indigent defense contract system. During 1998, the commission surveyed contract counsel to gain information on the operation of the contract system. Based on survey information and an analysis of applicable policies and practices, the commission submitted a report to the Council of Presiding Judges which provided the commission's assessment of the administration and operation of the contract system.
The Pattern Jury Instruction Commission was established by Administrative Rule 23 and is composed of six lawyer members appointed by the SBAND Board of Governors and six judge members appointed by the chair of the Judicial Conference after consultation with the Executive Committee.
The commission, chaired by Pat Durick of Bismarck, has been involved in a substantive review of North Dakota's existing criminal jury instructions as well as preparing instructions for criminal offenses created by enacted legislation. The commission is staffed by Lynn Kerbeshian, Grand Forks, who assists in research, revising and drafting jury instructions.
The Continuing Judicial Education Commission was established under AR 36 in July 1993. The commission is chaired by District Judge Bruce Bohlman of Grand Forks. The responsibilities of the commission are to establish policies that effect the implementation of the mandatory education provision of the rule; develop judicial education programs for judges and court support personnel; develop and recommend a biennial budget for judicial education activities to the North Dakota Supreme Court; and develop a library of resource materials for judges and court support personnel. During 1996, the commission requested and the Supreme Court approved expanding the mandatory education rule to include judicial referees and juvenile court directors and court officers.
The Juvenile Policy Board is implementing balanced and restorative justice as the operational philosophy to be followed by North Dakota juvenile courts. The board is chaired by District Judge Allan Schmalenberger of Dickinson. This approach emphasizes public safety, accountability to the victim and the community, and the development of skills which enhance the ability to become productive citizens. The juvenile court officers will focus more on involvement of the victim, insuring payment of restitution, completion of community service hours and other outcome based programs and will be less involved in counseling or "family therapy". This policy direction is possible when the juvenile courts are part of an overall community approach to address juvenile delinquency; the problems of families; and drug and alcohol abuse. As part of this community approach, the courts work closely with many entities, including the local Children's Services Coordinating Committee, which have been authorized by the legislature. These committees, thanks in no small way to the leadership of Lt Governor Myrdal, who chairs the state committee, have been instrumental in developing local services for children and families. These services are used extensively by the juvenile courts, allowing the juvenile courts to concentrate on the segments of the balanced approach previously mentioned.
Justice Mary Meuhlen Maring is leading a task force to determine whether a pilot juvenile drug court should be implemented in our state. These courts have shown significant results in many communities. Justice Maring's task force will determine if such a court fits in our state and what community resources must be marshaled for such a court to succeed.
The State Bar Board was created by the 1919 Legislative Assembly to assist the Supreme Court in its constitutional responsibility to regulate the admission to practice. The Bar Board's three members must all be licensed members of the North Dakota bar. Board members are Rebecca S. Thiem of the Bismarck firm of Zuger, Kirmis, and Smith; Mark L. Stenehjem of the Williston firm of Winkjer, McKennett, Stenehjem, Reierson, and Forsberg; and Paul F. Richard of MeritCare Health System of Fargo. By statute, Penny Miller, the Clerk of Court, serves as Secretary-Treasurer to the Board.
Admission to practice in North Dakota can be based on the results of the written bar examination; five years of admission and at least four years of practice in another jurisdiction; and, within two years of application, achieving a score of 150 on the multistate bar examination (MBE), admission in another jurisdiction. However, every applicant for admission must be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, fit to practice law, and been awarded a juris doctor or equivalent degree from a law school approved, or provisionally approved, for accreditation by the ABA.
Good moral character and fitness to practice law include honesty, trustworthiness, diligence and reliability, as well as the ability to perform the obligations a member of the Bar owes to clients, the courts, opposing parties and counsel, and the public in general. The Board has petitioned the supreme Court for a rule change permitting conditional admission when circumstances warrant it.
The Bar Board administered a two-day bar examination in July 1998, to 40 individuals.
The State Bar Board is also responsible for collecting annual license fees. As of November 30, 1998, 1,841 lawyers and judges, 368 of whom were women, were licensed. In 1997, 1,853 lawyers and judges, 369 of whom were women, were licensed.
The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court was created in 1965 to provide a procedure for investigating, evaluating and acting upon complaints alleging unethical conduct by attorneys licensed in North Dakota.
The board consists of three non-lawyer and seven lawyer members. Dwight F. Kalash, Grand Forks, serves as chairman. The members of the board are appointed by the Supreme Court. The non-lawyer members are appointed from a list of individuals submitted by the State Bar Association, the Attorney General and the Chair of the Judicial Conference. Each lawyer member is appointed from a list submitted by the State Bar Association. Vivian E. Berg serves as Disciplinary Counsel and Paul W. Jacobson serves as Assistant Disciplinary Counsel. Penny Miller, Clerk of the Supreme Court, serves as secretary to the Disciplinary Board.
When a written complaint alleging attorney misconduct is received, it is filed by the board's secretary and referred to either the District Inquiry Committee East or West of the State Bar Association. The chair of the respective committee reviews the complaint and, if appropriate, assigns the complaint for investigation to a member of the committee or staff counsel. If the complaint, on its face, does not indicate misconduct, an investigation will not be initiated and the matter will be referred to the committee for summary dismissal. District Inquiry Committees may dismiss, issue an admonition, impose probation with the consent of the respondent attorney, or direct that formal proceedings be instituted.
Formal proceedings are instituted when there is probable cause to believe that misconduct has occurred. When a matter goes formal, a petition for discipline is filed and a hearing body is appointed by the chair of the board to make findings and a recommendation to the board. Present and past members of the Board may serve as hearing body members. The Board may dismiss the petition, issue a reprimand, impose probation or recommend other appropriate sanctions, with the exception of an admonition. The Board makes its recommendations to the Supreme Court for public discipline such as suspension or disbarment.
Members of the Disciplinary Board and the District Inquiry Committees are volunteers and are asked to review what, at times, can be very time-consuming matters. While many complaints are dismissed because they are groundless, the amount of volunteer time needed to run the system is significant.
A majority of the complaints filed allege improper conduct or incompetent representation. Several complaints regarding failure to communicate with the client, conflict of interest, client funds & property, and neglect or delay are also received. In 1997, 185 new complaints were filed. As of November 30, 1998, 184 files alleging misconduct have been opened. In 1997 through November 30, 1998, three attorneys were disbarred, seven attorneys were suspended from the practice of law, seven (public) reprimands were issued, 35 admonitions were issued, and one admonition with consent probation were instituted. Two attorneys were reinstated or returned to active status.
The Judicial Conduct Commission was established in 1975 to receive, evaluate and investigate complaints against any judge in the state and, when necessary, conduct hearings concerning the discipline, removal or retirement of any judge. District Court Judge Benny Graff is serving as acting chair of the Commission. The Commission consists of four non-lawyers, two judges, and one lawyer. The non-lawyers are appointed by the Governor; the judges are appointed by the District Judges Association; and the lawyer member is appointed by the State Bar Association.
The Commission's procedures are set forth in the North Dakota Rules of the Judicial Conduct Commission. Complaints alleging judicial misconduct are filed with Disciplinary Counsel, who evaluates the complaint. When a complaint is noticed for investigation, the judge has the duty to respond and has the opportunity to present any information the judge may choose. If there is substantial misconduct, formal proceedings will be instituted and a hearing will be held. The Commission may issue an admonition, with the consent of the judge. The Supreme Court must take final action on public censure, suspension, removal or retirement, or any discipline which limits the performance of judicial duties.
Thirty-six complaints were filed fin 1997. Of these, 32 were against district judges, three against referees, and one was against a municipal judge. Sixty-four complaints were filed in 1998 as of November 20, 1998. Of these, 56 were against district judges, six against referees, one against a municipal judge and one other. The most common complaint is with a judicial decision, which is generally a matter for appeal or further court proceedings rather than misconduct. Other common concerns are with impartiality and improper ex parte communication.