Notice of Comment (comments due August 12, 2019)

Proposed Amendments to Rule 3, Admission to Practice Rules

South Dakotans soon able to access court records from any computer

Brookings Register: "The South Dakota Unified Judicial System is piloting a program that will eventually allow the public access to court records from any computer. The public can now only view court records on computers at state courthouses during work hours from Monday to Friday."

Are dinosaur fossils 'minerals'? The Montana Supreme Court will decide high stakes case

Science: "Pristine dinosaur fossils discovered in Montana have sparked a property rights dispute that has hit paleontologists like an asteroid. The lawsuit, now at the Montana Supreme Court, concerns who owns some of the greatest fossil finds in the last century."

Justices Jensen and Tufte share insight at leadership seminar

Justice Jon Jensen and Justice Jerod Tufte spoke at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar held in Bismarck on June 21. Approximately 40 high school students and 30 volunteers from across North Dakota participated in the seminar.

Appointment process underway for new Burleigh-Morton area judge

Bismarck Tribune: "North Dakota's Judicial Nominating Committee will soon meet to select finalists for a new judge for the judicial district that covers Burleigh and Morton counties. State lawmakers budgeted for the new judgeship and a court reporter during their 2019 session."

8th Circuit issues opinions in N.D. case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a summary judgment dismissing a lien in a North Dakota oil field employment dispute and affirmed the district court's denial of attorney fees in the same matter.

Court seeks applicants for law clerk positions

The Supreme Court is seeking applicants for five law clerk positions for a one year term commencing Aug. 1, 2020. Applications are due July 12.

Notice of Judicial Vacancy

The Judicial Nominating Committee received a letter from Gov. Doug Burgum convening the committee to screen applicants and submit a list of nominees to fill the new judgeship in the South Central Judicial District. Applications are due July 12.

Nation: Emojis are increasingly coming up in court cases

CNN: "Can a knife emoji double as a threat to kill someone? Does a heart emoji from a manager constitute sexual harassment? More emojis are showing up in court cases throughout the United States. Attorneys are having to argue for different interpretations of the small illustrated characters that are used to express emotions, activities or objects."

U.S.: Court revives manslaughter charge in baby’s drug-related death

Courthouse News Service: "A divided Eighth Circuit panel reinstated an involuntary manslaughter charge Friday against a South Dakota woman whose son died hours after birth and was found to have illegal drugs in his system."