The North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the state of North Dakota. The Court rules on questions of law in appeals from the state's district courts.
Each of the five justices is elected on a no-party ballot for a ten-year term, arranged so that one seat is contested every two years. The Chief Justice is elected from the Justices every five years (or upon vacancy) by vote of the Supreme Court justices and the District Court judges.
The Supreme Court is empowered to constitute a Court of Appeals consisting of a three-member panel chosen from active and retired District Court judges, retired Supreme Court justices, and lawyers. The Court of Appeals only hears cases specifically assigned to it by the Supreme Court, which is done only infrequently.
Under Article 6, Section 4 of the North Dakota Constitution, The North Dakota Supreme Court "shall not declare a legislative enactment unconstitutional unless at least four of the members of the court so decide."[1] North Dakota and Nebraska are the only two states that require a supermajority of state Supreme Court justices to rule a legislative provision unconstitutional.
Justices
Current composition
| Justice | Born | Joined | Chief Justice | Term ends | Appointed by | Law school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon J. Jensen, Chief Justice | 1965 (age 58–59) | August 15, 2017 | 2020–present | 2030 | Doug Burgum (R) | North Dakota |
| Daniel J. Crothers | January 3, 1957 | June 2005 | – | 2032 | John Hoeven (R) | North Dakota |
| Lisa K. Fair McEvers | – | January 1, 2014 | – | 2028 | Jack Dalrymple (R) | North Dakota |
| Jerod E. Tufte | April 9, 1975 | January 1, 2017 | – | 2026 | —[a] | Arizona State |
| Douglas Bahr | 1960 or 1961 (age 63–64)[2] | February 1, 2023 | – | 2026 | Doug Burgum (R) | South Dakota |
- ^ Took office after being elected in a nonpartisan election.
References
- ^ "North Dakota Constitution – ARTICLE VI JUDICIAL BRANCH" (PDF).
- ^ Turley, Jeremy (January 9, 2023). "Raising the Bahr: Burgum taps judge to join North Dakota Supreme Court". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.
External links
| Authority control databases: National |
|---|
