Northeast Central Judicial District

Andrew Eyre

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:40:20 GMT

Judge Eyre was appointed District Judge for the Northeast Central Judicial District by Governor Armstrong in 2025 and maintains chambers in Grand Forks.

Judge Eyre was born in 1984 and raised in Wausau, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in 2007 and his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2013. While in law school, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers.

He was admitted to the North Dakota Bar in 2013 and served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Grand Forks County until his appointment to the bench.

Theodore Sandberg

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:46:15 GMT

Judge Sandberg was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2024 for the Northeast Central Judicial District judgeship #2 located in Grand Forks, ND.

Born in 1969; Judge Sandberg served in the United States Navy Submarine Force after high school from 1988 to 1991. He graduated from Wayne State University in 1994; and received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the N.D. State Bar on January 8, 2009.

Judge Sandberg served as a law clerk to Circuit Court Judge James A. Batzer in Western Michigan from 1997 to 1998; and as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Harry Branson in Anchorage, Alaska from 1999 to 2001. Judge Sandberg worked as a prosecuting attorney in Detroit, Michigan from 2001 to 2006; and worked in private legal practice from 2006 until his judgeship in 2024.

Judge Sandberg was elected to the SBAND Board of Governors from 2016 to 2024, and was elected SBAND President from 2024 to 2025. Judge Sandberg is also past-President of the Greater Grand Forks Bar Association and the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.

Kristi Pettit Venhuizen

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:21:18 GMT

Judge Venhuizen was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2023 for the Northeast Central Judicial District judgeship #6 located in Grand Forks, ND.

Born in 1973, Judge Vanhuizen grew up in Grand Forks. She graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1995. She received her Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, in 1998. She was adminited to the N.D. Bar on September 30, 1998; the Kansas State Bar on April 30, 1999; and the Minnesota State Bar on February 10, 2000.

Judge Venhuizen was in private practice for 25 years. She also served as the city prosecutor in Grand Forks and the Traffic Safety REsource Prosecutor for the State of North Dakota.

Judge Venhuizen served on the SBAND Board of Governors from 2007-2013 and was elected SBAND President in 2011-2012. She is also a past president of the Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association and a former chair of the Inquiry Committee Northeast.

Northwood

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:34:28 GMT

Richards, Larry,, Judge P.O. Box 397	701-587-5370 Fax: 701-587-5829 larry.richards@lawyer.com

Radke, Shelly, Clerk PO Box 397 Northwood 58267	701-587-5370 Fax: 701-587-5829 Email

Larimore

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:29:54 GMT

Rosenquist, Patrick Judge P.O. Box 766	patrick@rosenquistlawoffice.com

Huntley, Roberta, Clerk PO Box 766 Larimore 58251	701-343-2181 roberta.lch@midconetwork.com

Grand Forks

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:04:27 GMT

Rosenquist, Kerry, Judge
P.O. Box 5324
Grand Forks, ND 58206-5324
701-787-8160
Fax: 701-746-2519

Casavan, Paulette, Clerk
pcasavan@grandforksgov.com
PO Box 5324
Grand Forks, ND 58206-5324
701-787-8160
Fax: 701-746-2519

Emerado

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 21:39:49 GMT

Rosenquist, Patrick, Judge P.O. Box 130	701-775-0654 Fax: 701-775-6274 patrick@rosenquistlawoffice.com

Antonson, Sandie, Clerk PO Box 130 Emerado 58228-0130	701-594-4542 Fax: 701-594-3336 Email

Jay Knudson

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 21:21:35 GMT

Judge Knudson was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Doug Burgum in 2017 for the Northeast Central Judicial District #3 located in Grand Forks, ND.

Born in 1979; Judge Knudson grew up on a farm near Clifford, ND. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in economics from the University of North Dakota in 2001. He receieved his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2004, and was admitted to the N.D. Bar on September 27, 2004.

Judge Knudson worked in private legal practice in Grand Forks for six years following law school, and served as a staff attorney in the Indigent Defense Office in Grand Forks for four years. He was a Judicial Referee/Magistrate Judge for the Northeast Central Judicial District from 2015-2016 and was in private legal practice until his judgeship in 2017.

Jason McCarthy

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 21:15:03 GMT

Judge McCarthy was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Jack Dalrymple in 2016 for the Northeast Central Judicial District #5 located in Grand Forks, ND.

Born in 1971; Judge McCarthy received his Bachelor's of Administration in Criminal Justice from Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN in 1995. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1999 and was admitted to the N.D. bar on September 24, 1999. Judge McCarthy worked in the Grand Forks County States Attorney's office for 13 years.

John A. Thelen

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 21:09:33 GMT

Judge Thelen was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Jack Dalrymple in 2015 for the Northeast Central Judicial District #4 located in Grand Forks, ND. He was elected in 2018.

Born in 1952; Judge Thelen earned his Bachelors of Science in Economics from the University of North Dakota in 1978. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1981, and was admitted to the N.D. Bar on October 5, 1981.

He worked in private legal practice from 1981-2009. He also worked as a Judicial Referee and Magistrate in the Northeast Central Judicial District from 2009-2015.

Lolita G. Romanick

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:25:47 GMT

BS in Occupational Therapy, University of North Dakota, 1979; JD, University of Idaho School of Law, 1983; BA in French, University of North Dakota, 1995. Private practice in Grand Forks and Minot, ND, 1984 - 2014. Appointed Northeast Central Judicial District Judge in 2014; elected 2018. Retired as district judge in November 2023.

Don Hager

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 21:24:37 GMT

Judge Hager was appointed as District Court Judge by Governor Jack Dalrymple in 2014 for the Northeast Central Judicial District judgeship #1 located in Grand Forks, ND. He was then elected in 2018.

Born in 1955; Judge Hager served in the U.S. Navy from 1974-1980. After his honorable discharge, he attended Mayville State University and received his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Administration in 1983. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1986, and was admitted to the N.D. Bar on September 25, 1986. He worked in private legal practice in Larimore, N.D. until his judgeship in 2014.

Northeast Central

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 14:45:09 GMT

Created in 1979 to include Grand Forks, Griggs and Nelson counties. In 2000, Griggs County was transferred to the Southeast Judicial District. The Northeast Central Judicial District is part of Unit 1 that also includes the Northeast Judicial District.

District Administration:

Hearing Livestreams:

^{* Note - Not all hearings will be livestreamed. Recording of the hearing is not allowed.}

Case Flow Management Plan

Nelson County

Tue, 08 May 2018 14:18:50 GMT

Regular Courthouse Hours: 8:00am - 12:00pm, 1:00pm - 4:30pm

Phone: (701) 247-2462

Fax: (701) 241-2412

Courthouse Instructions: Everyone should use the main (south) door. The side (east) door is locked, with access allowed for people with disabilities. Entry can be requested by those with disabilities – a buzzer is by the door for this request.

Jury Instructions: Cell phones are usually not allowed once a jury is selected. Snacks/coffee/water are provided throughout the day.

County Website: https://www.nelsonco.org/

Grand Forks County

Mon, 07 May 2018 19:39:56 GMT

Regular Courthouse Hours: 8am - 5pm

Phone: Clerk's Office - (701) 787-2700

Email: 18clerk@ndcourts.gov

Courthouse Instructions: The main entrance to the Grand Forks County Courthouse is through the East door. See map below:

Parking Instructions: All day parking is located on the 3rd floor of the Grand Forks County Parking Ramp (with an electator) along Bruce Avenue and Third Street.

Jury Instructions: Please turn your cell phones off. Please do not bring gum, food or beverages into the courtroom without permission. If something is needed ask the bailiff or clerk.