East Central Judicial District

Scott O. Diamond

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:04:47 GMT

Scott O. Diamond

Jessica Jordan

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:54:03 GMT

Jessica Jordan

Ryan Younggren

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 14:50:12 GMT

Judge Younggren was elected to the North Dakota District Court in 2024. He serves in Judgeship No. 8 of the East Central Judicial District, located in Fargo, N.D.

Born in 1974, Judge Younggren was raised on a Red River Valley farm near Hallock, Minnesota and graduated from Kittson Central High School. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (BSPA) from the University of North Dakota in 1997, the flood year, and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Denver in 2000. While in law school, Judge Younggren was a legal intern for Federal Magistrate Judge Bruce D. Pringle of the Colorado District Court. His career as a lawyer began at the firm Ogborn, Summerlin, and Ogborn and he next was a Denver Deputy District Attorney from 2001-2007. He and his family moved home to Fargo and he became an Assistant Cass County State’s Attorney from 2007-2024. Judge Younggren has taught trial practice at the University of North Dakota School of Law for many years.

Stephanie Hayden

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:07:00 GMT

Judge Hayden was appointed to the North Dakota District Court by Governor Doug Burgum in 2023. She serves in Judgeship #10 of the East Central Judicial District, located in Fargo, N.D.

A native of West Fargo, Judge Hayden was born in 1978. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Dakota in 2001 and her Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2003. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2008 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on September 15, 2008.

Judge Hayden began her legal career as a law clerk for the district court judges in the East Central Judicial District from 2008 to 2009. She then entered private legal practice, where she worked from 2009 to 2020. From 2020 until her judicial appointment in 2023, she served as a Judicial Referee and Magistrate in the East Central Judicial District.

Constance L. Cleveland

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:10:51 GMT

Judge Cleveland was elected as District Court Judge in 2022 for the East Central Judicial District judgeship #4 located in Fargo, ND.

Born in Grand Forks in 1960, Judge Cleveland graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High School. She obtained her Bachelor's of Science in secondary education from the University of North Dakota, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1988. She was admitted to the N.D. State Bar on October 4, 1988; the Minnesota Bar in 1988; the U.S. District Court of North Dakota in 1989; Eighth Circut Court of Appeals in 1992; and the United States Supreme Court in 2003. Judge Cleveland obtained her specialist certification from the National Association of Counsel for Children as a Child Welfare Law Specialist in 2003 until 2023. As a student, Judge Cleveland served as a law clerk for Judge Kirk Smith in the North Central Judicial District and was an intern at the Grand Fork's State's Attorneys office. She was also a law clerk at Massee, Leonard and Lindquist law firm in East Grand Forks, MN.

Judge Cleveland served as in-house counsel and child protection attorney for Cass County Social Services from 1997 to 2022; Special Assistant Attorney General from 2003 to 2012 representing the North Dakota Department of Human Services; Assistant Cass County State's Attorney in the criminal division from 1991 to 1997; Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney from 1989 to 1991; and Judicial Law Clerk in Minnesota's Ninth Judicial District from 1988 to 1989.

Judge Cleveland served as an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN for twenty-seven years beginning in 1996.

Nicholas W. Chase

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 16:13:13 GMT

Judge Chase was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2022 for the East Central Judicial District judgeship #6 located in Fargo, ND.

Born in 1968; Judge Chase received his Bachelor's degree from Minot State University in 1991. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota in 1995, and was admitted to the N.D. State Bar on September 22, 1995.

Judge Chase served as a special assistant North Dakota attorney general and worked in practice from 1998 to 2002. He served as a law clerk for Senior Circuit Judge Myron Bright in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997-1998, and for Magistrate Judge Karen Klein in U.S. District Court from 1995-1997.

Judge Chase served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota from 2002 to 2022. As an assistant U.S. Attorney, he led the office's Appellate, White Collar Fraud, Criminal Immigration, and Asset Recovery units. Judge Chase tried numerous cases to verdict, including illegal labor trafficking, child exploitation, violent crime, international bank fraud, narcotics, money laundering, farm program fraud, and Jamaican lottery fraud. Judge Chase was promoted to first assistant U.S. attorney in 2019. He was appointed to serve as interim U.S. attorney in February 2021. Judge Chase resigned October 10, 2025. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota in October 2025.

Reid A. Brady

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 19:45:20 GMT

Judge Reid Brady was elected as District Court Judge in 2020 for the East Central Judicial District, Judgeship #5, located in Fargo, North Dakota.

Born in 1973, Judge Brady is a native of Fargo, North Dakota. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from North Dakota State University and his Master of Science from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1999 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on September 24, 1999.

Following law school, Judge Brady served as a law clerk for Justice Carol Kapsner at the North Dakota Supreme Court from 1999 to 2000. He then worked as an Assistant North Dakota Attorney General from 2000 to 2003, and later as an Assistant Cass County State’s Attorney from 2004 to 2020.

Tristan J. Van de Streek

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 22:19:01 GMT

Judge Van de Streek was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2019 for Judgeship No. 2 of the East Central Judicial District, located in Fargo, N.D.

Born in 1976, Judge Van de Streek attended Minot State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Administration in 2000. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2003 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on October 6, 2003.

Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Van de Streek practiced law privately in Minot from 2003 to 2007. He then served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cass County from 2007 to 2018.

West Fargo

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:11:24 GMT

Barkus, Trent, Judge 800 4th Ave E, Suite 2	701-515-5025 Fax: 701-433-5319 trent@barkuslawfirm.com

Amy M. Kraemer, Clerk 800 4th Ave East, Suite 2 West Fargo 58078-2099	701-515-5028 Fax: 701-433-5319 Email

Horace

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:28:33 GMT

Schaible, Jamie, Judge
P.O. Box 99

701-492-2972

Fargo

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:03:11 GMT

Dawson, Stephen, Judge
P.O. Box 49
Fargo, ND 58102
701-241-1318
Fax: 701-241-1320
stevedawson701@gmail.com

Hanson, Shiloh, Clerk
402 NP Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102
701-241-1318
shanson@FargoND.gov

Cherie L. Clark

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 21:17:55 GMT

Judge Clark was appointed to the District Court bench by Governor Doug Burgum in 2017, serving in Judgeship No. 1 of the Southeast Judicial District, located in Jamestown, North Dakota. In 2023, she was again appointed by Governor Burgum to fill Judgeship No. 11 in the East Central Judicial District.

Born in 1969, Judge Clark earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the University of South Dakota in 1996. She completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 1997 and obtained her Juris Doctor in 2000. She was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on January 8, 2007.

Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Clark served as an Assistant County Attorney for Otter Tail County, Minnesota, from 2002 to 2006, and as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Cass County, North Dakota, from 2006 to 2017.

East Central

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 14:39:14 GMT

Created in 1979 to include Cass, Steele and Traill counties. The East Central District is part of Unit 2 which also includes the Southeast Judicial District.

District Administration:

Chris Iverson

Hearing Livestreams:

- East Central Judicial District

- Hon. Stephannie N. Stiel

^{* Note - Not all hearings will be livestreamed. Recording of the hearing is not allowed. The Court does not control any advertisements or comments that may be displayed near or with our videos. No such associated content is intended as an official message of the Court.}

Case Flow Management Plan

Standing Order for REM Proceeding

Wade L. Webb

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:50:38 GMT

Judge Webb was appointed to the East Central Judicial District judgeship No. 7, located in Hillsboro, N.D., by Governor John Hoeven in 2003. He was elected to the position in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2014.

Born in 1970 in Grafton, North Dakota, Judge Webb is a 1988 graduate of Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo. He earned his Bachelor of Administration degree from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1992, and his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1995.

Following law school, Judge Webb served as a Minnesota District Court law clerk from 1995 to 1996. He then worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cass County, where he led the Personal Crimes Team from 1996 to 2003.

Stephannie N. Stiel

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:50:08 GMT

Judge Stephannie N. Stiel was appointed to the North Dakota District Court by Governor Doug Burgum in 2017, serving in the East Central Judicial District, Judgeship No. 9, located in Fargo, N.D.

Born in 1978 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Judge Stiel earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2000. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2003 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on October 6, 2003.

Following law school, Judge Stiel served as a law clerk for the North Dakota Supreme Court from 2003 to 2004. She then practiced law privately in Fargo from 2004 until her judicial appointment in 2017.

Thomas R. Olson

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:47:36 GMT

Augsburg College, B.A. 1976. Studied at Luther Theological Seminary 1975-1976. William Mitchell College of Law, J.D. 1981. Served in Clay County, Minn., Attorney's Office from 1983-1985. Private legal practice in Fargo focusing on civil litigation and mediation, 1985-2014. Appointed District Judge by Gov. Jack Dalrymple 2014, elected 2016.

Steven E. McCullough

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:40:18 GMT

Judge Steven McCullough was elected District Judge for the East Central Judicial District #3 in 2004 and maintains chambers in Fargo, North Dakota. He was re-elected in 2010 and 2016.

Judge McCullough, a native of West Fargo, North Dakota, was born in 1962. He graduated from West Fargo High School and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1987 and was admitted to the North Dakota Bar on October 6, 1987.

He practiced law in the private sector from 1987 until his election to the bench in 2004.

Steven L. Marquart

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:37:45 GMT

Born in 1954. Graduate: Moorhead High School; BA, Moorhead State University; JD, University of North Dakota School of Law. Private practice 1979-2004, Fargo. Law Clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Paul Benson. Elected District Judge 2004, 2010, 2016. Retired December 31, 2022.

John C. Irby

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:36:47 GMT

Judge Irby was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor John Hoeven in 2002 for the East Central Judicial District #8 located in Fargo, ND. He was elected in 2006, re-elected in 2012 and 2018.

Born 1956, Judge Irby is a native of Warroad, MN. He graduated from Falls Senior High School in International Falls, MN. He received his Bachelor of Administration from Moorhead State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming in 1982, and was admitted to the N.D. Bar on May 4, 1982.

Judge Irby was a legal intern for Legal Services for Southeastern Wyoming, Inc. in 1980. He was in private legal practice in Casselton, ND from 1982-2002. He served as the city prosecutor and assistant city attorney from 1982 until his judgeship in 2002.

Frank L. Racek

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:35:55 GMT

Born in 1957. B.A., Cum Laude, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN, 1979. J.D., with distinction, University of North Dakota 1982. Private practice in Fargo, ND 1982-88; appointed Judge of County Court August 1988. Elected District Judge in 1994, 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2014. CPA certificate.