Events

Farewell coffee to honor Judge Hagerty, Ronda Colby March 13

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:00:00 GMT

A farewell coffee reception for retiring South Central Judicial District Judge Gail Hagerty and court reporter Ronda Colby will be held on Friday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the Burleigh County Courthouse.

SCJD to present law course for caring professionals

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Judges and judicial referees of the South Central Judicial District, attorneys, and other professionals will present a Law School for Caring Professionals in March. The program is modeled after similar sessions offered in the past.

Judge Doug Bahr, who is organizing the program, said: “Our goal is to help caring professionals understand, in simple and practical terms, the juvenile, civil, and criminal justice systems as experienced by the individuals they provide care to so that the caring professionals are in the best position to provide meaningful support. The individuals the caring professionals may be providing support to include litigants, litigants’ family members, victims, victims’ family members, witnesses, potential jurors, and a host of other individuals and their family members.” Bahr explained that caring professionals include clergy, counselors, social workers, educators, and others who provide counseling and care for people in times of crisis. “We are pleased that we are able to provide this information with existing resources and without cost to participants, Bahr said.

On March 10, 2020, the program will focus on juvenile court issues. It will also include information about domestic violence, protection orders, and small claims court.

On March 17, 2020, the program will deal with criminal law issues from investigation through sentencing. The program will also address issues of clergy confidentiality and contact with judicial participants.

On March 24, 2020, civil law issues, including family law, guardianships involuntary commitment proceedings, evictions, and jury duty will be discussed.

All sessions will last from 4 - 6 p.m. and be held at the Burleigh County Courthouse.

Registration for the Law School for Caring Professionals is required. Due to space constraints only 50 registrations will be accepted. There is no cost to participants.

To register contact Donna Wunderlich at 701-222-6682 or dwunderlich@ndcourts.gov.

Bismarck - Mandan Drug Court celebrates 20 years of hope and healing

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 09:00:00 GMT

Chief Justice Jon Jensen and Justice Gerald VandeWalle were honored guests at the celebration.

South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick presided over the ceremony. He has served seven years as lead Drug Court judge.

South Central Judicial District Presiding Judge Gail Hagerty presented Judge Romanick with the Drug / DUI Court's Distinguished Service Award for his work on the court, which is done in addition to his regular caseload.

Members of the Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants accepted the Drug Court Partner Award. The group hosts a summer picnic for participants and their families, provides Christmas treats, and provides support during drug court sessions.

Theresa Mehring was honored with the Drug Court Advocate Award, for the support she provides to individual participants.

Zack Pelham presented a birthday bicycle to the Drug Court on behalf of the State Bar Association of North Dakota.

Rhonda, the first person to complete the program, talked how Drug Court changed her life.

Photos by Dale Sandstrom

Happy Birthday, Drug/DUI Court

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 09:30:00 GMT

The state's first adult Drug/ DUI Court will be 20 years old in January - and there's going to be a party! The annual drug court celebration will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Burleigh County Courthouse.

Judge Bruce Romanick will be awarded the Drug/ DUI Court's Distinguished Service Award for his 7 years of service as the lead drug court judge. Romanick's work is done in addition to his regular caseload, and he has participated in activities like volunteering at the Santa Run with participants.

The Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants will receive the Drug Court Partner Award. The group hosts a summer picnic for participants and their families, provides Christmas treats, and provides support during drug court sessions.

Theresa Mehring will receive the Drug Court Advocate Award, for the support she provides to individual participants.

Members of the Bruce M. Van Sickle Inn of Court will host the Drug / DUI Court party. The Inn of Court is a group of lawyers and judges who strive toward excellence and civility in the practice of law.

The Bismarck - Mandan Drug/ DUI Court began operation on January 5, 2001. The Drug / DUI Court has 20 participants at the present time. All the participants are chemically addicted individuals who have pleaded guilty to drug or alcohol offenses. The program was planned and initiated through the leadership of the Department of Corrections.

97 people have successfully completed the program. 182 have been involved in the program - 109 men and 76 women. 55 were sentenced to Drug/ DUI Court as part of a driving under the influence sentence, 116 were sentenced for drug offenses or drug-related offenses.

Participants attend court sessions each week and are involved in intensive treatment and probation programs. They are tested for drug and alcohol use several times each week. They are required to work, attend school or do community service 40 hours each week.

Each participant makes an appearance each time they appear in court and discusses their progress with the judge. Participants move through three phases of the Drug/ DUI Court program and earn incentives as they progress. During the later phases, the number of court appearances and the intensity of supervision decrease. A minimum of a year in the program is required for commencement.

District Judges Bruce Romanick and Gail Hagerty are the Drug/ DUI Court judges. Natasha Nagel is the coordinator and probation officer for the program and Jennifer Goldade coordinates treatment services, which are provided through West Central Human Services.

Legal assistants bring Christmas cheer to Drug Court

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 09:00:00 GMT

Members of the Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants visited South Central Drug Court on Dec. 13 to bring Christmas cheer to the participants. Pictured are (back row) ReBecka Wohl, Candy Schafer, Laurie Guenther, Melissa Hamilton, Melissa Klimpel and (front row) Charlene Smith, Alice Johnson, Bonnie Banks.

WDALA members have collaborated with the DUI/Drug Court for the past nine years to provide summer picnics, Christmas gifts, and Christmas cookies to drug court participants. They express their deep appreciation to all the sponsors who help them make the gift giving possible.

NECJD staff hold appreciation event for district judges

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 09:30:00 GMT

On Dec. 4, the Grand Forks County Clerk of Court's office, the Juvenile Court and the district court administration staff held their annual appreciation event and lunch for the Northeast Central Judicial District judges.

Grand Forks County Clerk of Court Becky Absey chairs and coordinates the event and has done so for approximately 20 years.

Photo by Kelly Hutton

United Tribes students visit Burleigh County Courthouse

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mark Turner’s United Tribes Technical College class visited the Burleigh County Courthouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30. They observed misdemeanor first appearances and then met with South Central Judicial District Judge Gail Hagerty and assistant State’s Attorney Dennis Ingold.

Drug court professionals meet in West Fargo

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 08:30:00 GMT

The North Dakota adult and juvenile drug court team members along with South Dakota and Minnesota drug court team members gathered Oct. 16-18 in West Fargo.

East Central Judicial District Judge John Irby received the Team Member Award sponsored by the North Dakota Drug Court Professionals Association from his colleague Judge Steven McCullough. Nominations were received by Judge Irby’s team members and past participants from the Fargo Adult Drug Court.

The presentation of the flags was carried out by Deputy Justin Mortenson and Deputy Glen Manning from the Cass County Color Guard and the Star Spangled Banner was song by East Central Judicial District Judge Susan Bailey, Ryan Younggren, Renata Selzer and Mark Hendrickson.

South Central Judicial District Courtroom Criminal Basics training continues

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Twenty-eight attorneys attended the second session of the Courthouse Criminal Basics program Oct. 15. Two additional sessions will be held on Oct. 22 and 30 from 4-6 p.m. at the Burleigh County Courthouse. Each session has been approved for two hours of CLE credit. The sessions are free, and no registration is required.

SCJD Presiding Judge Gail Hagerty provided background information about the courts.

Judge Bruce Romanick talked about the first appearance in criminal cases.

Judges Cynthia Feland and Doug Bahr answered questions from the participants.

Judge Dave Reich discussed pretrial motions in criminal cases.

Trial Court Administrator Donna Wunderlich and Burleigh County Clerk of District Court Michelle Bring provided information about judge schedules and courthouse staff at the first session of the Courthouse Criminal Basics program Oct. 8. Twenty- six attorneys attended.

At the Oct. 8 session, Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer discussed what she wishes someone had told her early on.

Defense Attorneys Travis Finck and Jackson Lofgren talked about how to find the prosecutor's human side at the Oct. 8 session.

Judge Nesvig investiture set for Oct. 21

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Pamela Nesvig will be sworn in as the newest South Central District Judge in a ceremony in the Morton County Courthouse on Monday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m.

The investiture is a formal ceremony at which a judge takes the Oath of Office and receives the judge’s robe and a gavel.

Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Nesvig to the newly authorized judgeship on Aug. 12. Prior to her appointment, Nesvig was a judicial referee for the district.

The public is invited to attend the Investiture. A reception will follow.

Cameras will be allowed in the courtroom for the investiture

For further information, please call the District Court Administrator’s Office at 222-6682.

Stutsman and Barnes County juvenile court celebrates Drug Court Month

Tue, 21 May 2019 09:00:00 GMT

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.

Stutsman/Barnes Juvenile Drug court is a video conferencing court which gives the Barnes County juveniles and parents the opportunity to attend court and not have to travel to Jamestown every week. The court has been operating since January 2013, with Judge Troy LeFevre as the primary judge and Judge Cheri Clark as alternate.

Other team members pictured above are Tonya Duffy, Barnes County State’s Attorney; Scott Sandness, defense counsel; Curt Brown, juvenile court officer; Candy Wingenbach, Jamestown High School; Damian Hoyt, case-aide; Dana Rustebakke, Valley City Police Dept.; and Amanda Thomas, coordinator.

Juvenile Drug Court meets on a weekly basis and the program is designed to last from nine months to a year. There are currently six juvenile drug courts across the state and five adult drug courts.

Long serving juvenile court officer Hamnes to retire

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Launee Hamnes, Juvenile Court Officer II in the Devils Lake Juvenile Court Office, will retire from the ND Court System on March 31 after 32 years of service.

"Launee’s dedication to helping kids and families in the Northeast Judicial District will be greatly missed," said Shawn Peterson, Director of Juvenile Court Services for Unit 1. "We wish her the best in her retirement."

Grand Forks district judges meet with UND constitutional law students

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT

On Feb. 22, Northeast Central Judicial District judges Donald Hager and Jay Knudson hosted the University of North Dakota Constitutional Law class taught by Associate Professor Julia Ernst. The judges discussed constitutional law issues that they have seen in the district court and also provided a few tips on practicing in the state courts to the students.

Grand Forks County to celebrate clerk's office renovations June 15

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 20:09:00 GMT

Improvements to the Grand Forks County Clerk of District Court office will be unveiled at a Grand Reopening celebration at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 15.

The office received a 2017 Court Facilities Improvement Grant totaling $60,821.97, which paid for 75 percent of the clerk's office renovation. Grand Forks County paid the remaining 25 percent.

The clerk's office was previously divided into civil and criminal divisions. As part of the project, the divisions were combined in a single office, which enhanced court personnel safety, security and cross-training ability.

Construction work began Feb. 6. On May 18, the clerk's office relocated to the renovated combined clerk's office location.


	The doors to the Grand Forks County Clerk of Court office formerly opened directly into the Criminal Division.
	The doors led to an unsecured desk staffed by deputy clerks of court.
	Public access terminals previously were crammed into a side hallway.
	During construction, clerks worked from tables in a makeshift office.
	Securing the former doorway was an important part of the project.
	Now, the civil and criminal clerks meet the public from a single secure window.
	On the inside of the clerk's office, staff work in a secure area.
	The public access terminal area has been improved with more convenient access to the clerk's office.