The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2014 Gavel Magazine | Page 37

candidates is superb,” he says. “They are
good people applying for all the right
reasons. For many of them, serving as a
judge is the culmination of a legal career,
and a way to ensure the ongoing integrity and health of the legal profession.
The importance of judges in our state is
recognized by all involved in this process, including the applicants, committee
members and the Governor.”
When the list of nominees arrives in
the Governor’s office, the law requires
that an appointment be made within 30
days. Jerod Tufte, Governor Jack Dalrymple’s legal counsel, says he and Lt.
Governor Drew Wrigley, who is also an
attorney, both participate in the initial
review of the nominees.
“We have confidence in the work of
the nominating committee, as far as the
nominees having the basic qualifications
and abilities. We review their applications and call references. But, ultimately
the Governor will assess how the can-

The Gavel Winter 2014

didates interact with people and their
ability to resolve conflicts.”
With each nominee, the Governor
receives letters from the public. “Most
are supportive, but some are not, and
they all go into the file that we give to
the Governor,” Tufte says. “The Supreme
Court appointment generated the most
letters.”
The Governor interviews all candidates, all on the same day, if possible.
“The lead question is often, ‘Why do you
want to be a judge?’” says Tufte. “Once
completed, the Governor considers the
candidates, sometimes asking me to find
answers to follow-up questions that arise
during discussion of the candidates.”
The Governor narrows down the list
and, if possible, personally makes the call
to the person he selects.
Tufte says those in the Governor’s
office who are involved in selecting the
judges believe the judicial nominating
process is effective and fair. “It has al-

lowed the Governor to pick good people
from well qualified candidates to serve
on the bench. And, the committee has
been giving him what he wants – which
is a very tough choice.”
The permanent members of the Judicial
Nominating Committee are:
Judge William McLees, Monte Rogneby,
Duane Houdek, Kari Ness, Dale Mowry,
and Susan Sisk.

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