North Dakota female prison populations hit capacity

My ND Now: "North Dakota’s female prison population has reached capacity for the first time, leaving some inmates in the custody of county jails."

A Millennial in management: Thunder takes over top job in North Dakota Labor Department

Jamestown Sun: "Erica Thunder took over the top job in the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights earlier this month. In a couple of weeks, she'll turn 30. Despite that relative youth, Thunder wasn't daunted by her new responsibilities."

Back on your feet - It takes shoes!

KFGO News: "After seeing an influx of cases involving drugs and alcohol (often with repeat offenders) a North Dakota district court judge decided to try something different."

Judge Jerome 'Jerry' G. Arnold 1941-2019

Judge Jerome 'Jerry' G. Arnold died June 6. A UND School of Law graduate, he served from 1986-1991 as U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. For the last 25 years he worked in Duluth as a Workers' Compensation Judge.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Court Reporter with the District Court in the Bismarck/Mandan area has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Citizen Access Paralegal with the Supreme Court Law Library in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Paralegal with the Attorney General's Office in Bismarck has been posted.

Supreme Court seeks staff attorney

A job announcement for a Staff Attorney - Central Legal with the Supreme Court in Bismarck has been posted. The closing date is June 20, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.

Attorney Jack McDonald receives Liberty Bell Award for First Amendment advocacy

Bismarck Tribune: "Bismarck attorney Jack McDonald received the State Bar Association of North Dakota's Liberty Bell Award [June 13] for work McDonald has done during the course of his career on First Amendment issues."

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Legal Assistant II with the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents in Dickinson has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for Contract Attorneys for the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents in the Northwest, South Central and Southeast Judicial Districts has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant Attorney General (Civil Litigation) with the Attorney General's Office in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant Attorney General (Criminal and Regulatory) with the Attorney General's Office in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant Attorney General to serve as director of the Medicaid Fraud Unit in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

Four job announcements for Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of North Dakota have been posted.

Justin N. Silicz 1986-2019

UND School of Law graduate Justin N. Silicz died June 2. A member of the Manitoba bar, he worked as an attorney in Winnipeg. Funeral services are at St. John Brébeuf Parish in Winnipeg on Saturday, June 8 at 9:30 a.m.

Federalist Society offers free CLE event June 12

The North Dakota Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society will present a free continuing legal education event at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 in the Mozart Room at the Delta Hotels by Marriott in Fargo.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Deputy Clerk with the District Court in Williston has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Attorney I with the Child Support Division of the Department of Human Services in Bismarck has been posted.

LaMoure and Ransom County clerk’s offices to be closed Friday

The LaMoure and Ransom County Clerk of Court’s offices will be closed Friday, June 7.

Dakota Datebook: The most remarkable trial

Prairie Public: "On this date in 1912, the Bismarck Tribune reported that Myron R. Kent quietly passed away in the state penitentiary. The news did not cause much of a stir. But at one time, Kent was at the center of what had been dubbed 'the most remarkable trial in the annals of the west.'"

Patrick Morley 1950-2019

Longtime Grand Forks attorney Patrick Morley died June 5. He was 68. A graduate of the UND School of Law, he was admitted to the bar in 1976. A celebration of life will take place Sunday, June 23 at 2 p.m. at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.

N.D. will turn vet MPs into police officers with just 2 weeks of training

Military Times: "The North Dakota National Guard struck a deal recently with the North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to offer certain military police officers a partial training waiver."

Court computer network maintenance set for Tuesday evening

The court system's computers will experience some outages as work is being performed by ITD on the court’s network circuits on Tuesday, June 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The work should be completed by 8:30 p.m. All court systems will experience some form of downtime during this period.

Barnes County clerk's office to be closed Thursday

On Thursday, June 6, the Barnes County Clerk of Court's office will be closed all day.

19th Amendment passed a century ago today

G.F. Herald: "A century ago today, on June 4, 1919, Congress passed a resolution in support of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would give women the right to vote."

Donald R. Holloway 1936-2019

Donald R. Holloway, 82, died June 2. After earning a law degree at the UND School of Law, he was North Dakota Securities Commissioner from 1968 to 1976, practiced law in Bismarck from 1976 to 1990, and was an Administrative Law Judge until 2007. His funeral is at 10 a.m. on June 6 at Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Jacque G. Stockman 1923-2019

Jacque G. Stockman, 95, died on May 26. A 1950 UND School of Law graduate, he established a law practice, farmed north of Fargo, served in the North Dakota House of Representatives and was a Fargo City Commissioner. A private memorial event will be held at a later date.

Steele County clerk’s office to close early Monday

The Steele County Clerk of Court’s office will close Monday, June 3, at 1:30 p.m.

U.S. Attorney's Office to focus on white collar crimes, narcotics trafficking, violence in Indian Country

G.F. Herald: "After 42 days as North Dakota’s U.S. attorney, Drew Wrigley said he has focused on strengthening the office and plans to add new team members to help prosecute white-collar crimes and narcotics trafficking while also focusing on violence in Indian Country."

LaMoure County clerk's office to close early Thursday

The LaMoure County Clerk of Court's office will close at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 30.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant Attorney General with the Criminal and Regulatory Division of the North Dakota Attorney General's Office in Bismarck has been posted.

New opinion: May 28

The Supreme Court has issued a new opinion.

Richard L. Healy 1929-2019

Longtime Hankinson and Fargo attorney Richard L. Healy died Jan. 15. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 1 at Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Hankinson.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Citizen Access Paralegal with the Supreme Court Law Library in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant State's Attorney with the Burleigh County State's Attorney Office in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Legal Assistant with the Wells County State's Attorney Office in Fessenden has been posted.

New opinions: May 24

The Supreme Court has issued 2 new opinions.

Russell Rodrick “Rod” Mather 1927-2019

Longtime attorney Russell Rodrick “Rod” Mather, died May 20 at 91 years old. A University of Colorado law school graduate, he began practicing in Bismarck in 1953.

Griggs County Recorders/Clerks Office will be closed Friday afternoon

Griggs County Recorders/Clerks Office will be closed Friday afternoon, May 24th.

Billings County Courthouse is closed until tomorrow

Billings County Courthouse is closed until tomorrow, Thursday, May 23rd, due to an electrical power outage.

Supreme Court E-Filing Portal now available

An e-filing portal is now available for attorneys to electronically file and serve documents in the Supreme Court. Attorneys are encouraged to use the portal to file documents. Documents submitted for filing can be uploaded directly to the Clerk’s office through the portal and they can be served on the other parties through the portal.

Robert Wheeler 1922-2019

Longtime attorney Robert "Bert" Wheeler, 96, died May 18 in Fargo. A remembrance event will be held at the Bismarck Elks Club on Tuesday, May 28, from 5-7 p.m.

Stutsman and Barnes County juvenile court celebrates Drug Court Month

Special guests Representative Bernie Satrom, Justice Jerod Tufte and his wife State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte attended the Stutsman/Barnes Juvenile Drug Court on May 15 in recognition of Drug Court Month. They observed a graduation and court session.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Legal Assistant I with the Burleigh County State’s Attorney office in Bismarck has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Court Reporter with the District Court in the Bismarck/Mandan area has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Electronic Court Recorder with the District Court in Bottineau has been posted.

Coordination between programs key to curbing recidivism, North Dakota paper says

Fargo Forum: "A new paper just published in the North Dakota State Bar magazine tackles the complicated issue of prison sentences, repeat offenders and how the state can make a difference with a more coordinated justice system."

Odyssey system update set for Friday, May 17

Starting at 6:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, May 17, the Courts' Odyssey system will be offline for a planned update. Odyssey, Public Search, and any other system connected to Odyssey may be unavailable during this time. The update is expected to take several hours.

North Dakota court filings steady in 2018, Burleigh-Morton's judicial district still busiest

Bismarck Tribune: "Court filings in 2018 in North Dakota stayed fairly steady while Burleigh and Morton counties' judicial district remained the busiest in the state. The South Central Judicial District in 2018 continued a years long trend of logging the most civil, criminal and total case filings of the state's eight judicial districts."

New opinions: May 16

The Supreme Court has issued 29 new opinions.

Ransom County clerk's office closed May 20

The Ransom County Clerk of Court's office will be closed Monday, May 20.

North Dakota honors fallen officers at memorial service

Bismarck Tribune: "A bell rang 64 times near the North Dakota Peace Officers Memorial on the state Capitol grounds on Wednesday, each time proceeding the reading of the name of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty since 1882."

Job Announcement

Job announcements for two Assistant United States Attorney vacancies with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota have been posted.

N.D. Attorney General opinion: May 14

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that a city may not enact an ordinance similar to or identical to a state criminal law unless given specific statutory authority to regulate that area.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Deputy Clerk of District Court in Bismarck has been posted.

Latest N.D. Law Review issue now online

Volume 94, Issue 2 of the North Dakota Law Review is now available online.

ND jurists visit Rugby High School

Pierce County Tribune: "Two North Dakota judges visited Rugby High School last week to meet with students in the Tillman Hovland Auditorium for an informal question and answer session."

N.D. Attorney General opinion: May 13

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that the City of Napoleon did not violate the law because the discussions by the mayor and two council members were not subject to open meetings requirements.

North Dakota ranks third in the country when it comes to juvenile drug arrests

Jamestown Sun: "A recent study revealed juvenile drug arrest rates in North Dakota are among the highest in the country, and federal numbers show those numbers have increased over the last decade."

LaMoure clerk's office to close early today

The LaMoure County Clerk of Court’s office will be closed on Monday, May 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Electronic Court Recorder position with the District Court in Minot has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Attorney II (Public Defender) with the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents in Fargo has been posted.

Judge Olson, Judge Stiel and Justice Jensen speak at NDAJ Annual Meeting

On May 9, East Central District Court Judges Thomas Olson and Stephannie Stiel along with Justice Jon J. Jensen, participated in a panel providing “Practical Tips from the Bench” at the North Dakota Association for Justice Annual Meeting in Fargo.

Juveniles are committing violent crimes at the highest rate in five years

KX News: "Only about 14 percent of unruly and delinquent offenses committed by juveniles, ever see a day in court. The rest are dealt with through intervention, treatment and sometimes community service, that won't result in a criminal record."

Gov. Burgum appoints new North Dakota labor commissioner

Bismarck Tribune: "Gov. Doug Burgum on Thursday appointed a new North Dakota labor commissioner. Erica Thunder will lead the Department of Labor and Human Rights, succeeding Michelle Kommer. Thunder comes to the job after 2.5 years as the judicial systems administrator for the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission."

CPA society profiles Justice Jon J. Jensen in newsletter

Justice Jon J. Jensen, a CPA, was profiled in the May 2019 of the North Dakota CPA Newsletter, a quarterly publication issued by the North Dakota Society of Certified Public Accountants. The North Dakota CPA Society is the statewide association of Certified Public Accountants that has more than 1,800 members.

Barnes County clerk's office to close early May 7

The Barnes County Clerk of Court's office will close at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7. It will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Governor Burgum proclaims May as Drug Court Month

A courtroom is not a place where you expect to find scenes of celebration and tears of joy. Unless, of course, it’s drug court. During the month of May, drug courts throughout North Dakota will join more than 3,000 such programs nationwide in celebrating National Drug Court Month.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Deputy Clerk with the District Court in Fargo has been posted.

New opinion: May 6

The Supreme Court has issued one new opinion.

Justice Jensen, Judge Hurly speak at Rugby High School

Northeast Judicial District Judge Michael Hurly and Supreme Court Justice Jon Jensen visited Rugby High School on May 3. Judge Hurly and Justice Jensen spoke with the junior and senior classes about the North Dakota Judicial System, the Bill of Rights and answered questions from the students.

Gov. Burgum signs bill reforming forfeiture in North Dakota

Bismarck Tribune: "Gov. Doug Burgum on Thursday signed the last 53 bills remaining from the 2019 North Dakota legislative session, including one reforming civil asset forfeiture. Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, brought the original bill to eliminate the 'perverse incentive' of 'policing for profit.'"

N.D. Attorney General opinion: May 3

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that a response to an open records request is required even if no records exist.

UND School of Law commencement set for May 4

The University of North Dakota School of Law will confer the degree of Juris Doctor during commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on the UND campus in Grand Forks.

LSND to hold summer CLE June 12

Legal Services of North Dakota will hold its annual summer continuing legal education seminar on June 12 in Fargo.

New lawyers admitted to bar in Supreme Court ceremony

Nineteen new lawyers were admitted to the North Dakota bar during a ceremony on April 29 in the Supreme Court's Ralph Erickstad courtroom.

Hurting for attorneys, UND program boosts rural numbers

Public News Service: "There’s a mounting attorney shortage in rural areas of the state, and the University of North Dakota is tackling the issue head on. The Rural Justice program at the UND School of Law offers scholarships to students to work in the places that need them most."

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a District Court Law Clerk in the Northwest Judicial District has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for Director of Admissions at the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks has been posted.

Court adopts amendments to Admin. Rule 35

The Supreme Court has adopted amendments to N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 35 regarding the Juvenile Policy Board. The amendments are effective immediately.

LaMoure County clerk's office to close May 1-3

The LaMoure County Clerk of Court’s office will be closed Wednesday, May 1, through Friday, May 3, for the Clerk of Court conference.

North Dakota judicial budget passes with new judge, library remodel

Bismarck Tribune: "As the House and Senate passed provisions for a Theodore Roosevelt presidential library at Medora, they also OK'd a $970,000 remodel of the North Dakota Supreme Court Law Library in the judicial branch budget."

LaMoure County Courthouse will be closed from 10am to noon today

The LaMoure County Courthouse will be closed from 10 to noon on April 29, 2019 for a funeral for county employee Mike Shockman.

Rolette County Courthouse delayed opening

Rolette County Courthouse will open at 10am today due to inclement weather

Order of Adoption

Amendments to N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 35

New opinion: April 25

The Supreme Court has issued one new opinion.

Fargo family succeeds in changing state law on juvenile sexual assault cases

Dickinson Press: "Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill into law that aims to improve victim and treatment services in juvenile sexual assault cases after a Fargo family pushed for the changes in the North Dakota Legislature."

Job Announcement

A job announcement for State's Attorney of Rolette County has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant State's Attorney II for Burleigh County has been posted.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for a Deputy Clerk of District Court in Williston has been posted.

Justice Crothers teaches in Ukraine

North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers recently participated in two days of training for 38 newly appointed judges on the Ukraine High Anti-Corruption Court. Last week Crothers presented educational sessions in Kyiv, Ukraine on the rule of Law, fair and independent Courts and judicial decision-making.

New opinion: April 22

The Supreme Court has issued one new opinion.

New opinion: April 18

The Supreme Court has issued one new opinion.

Job Announcement

A job announcement for an Assistant State's Attorney for Grand Forks County has been posted.

New opinion: April 17

The Supreme Court has issued one new opinion.

Judicial system 2018 annual reports now available

The 2018 annual reports for the North Dakota Court System have been posted. The North Dakota Courts Annual Report provides statistics and information on all court system activity while the Juvenile Court Annual Report looks specifically at activity in the state's juvenile courts.

N.D. Attorney General opinion: April 16

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has issued an opinion that records relating to an ongoing lawsuit involving a public entity must be obtained through the discovery process, not the open records laws.