The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 24

PROCEDURAL RULE CHANGES from Rule 4 will be made part in Rule 5(d)(2) (A). In addition, new language in the same section will require proof of service to be provided and filed by a party seeking to file an initiating pleading. Rule 8 - General Rules of Pleading: The rule will be re-lettered the rule to reflect the movement of the content of former subdivision (d) to Rule 8(b)(6). Rule 26 - General Provisions Governing Discovery: Rule 26(b)(1)(A) will now include a revised definition of “electronically stored information” and will designate what types of metadata may generally be discovered. In addition, Rule 26(f) has been amended to set out a new procedure for discovery meetings and conferences and for the formulation of discovery plans and reports, with an emphasis on discussing and planning for the discovery of electronic information. Rule 33 - Interrogatories to Parties: Rule 33 will now limit the number of interrogatories a party may serve to 50. Rule 45 – Subpoena: Rule 45 will direct practitioners to the new N.D.R.Ct. 5.1 for direction on how to proceed with discovery in North Dakota in an action pending in an out-of-state court. Rule 58 - Entry and Notice of Entry of Judgment: Rule 58(b) has been amended to require the prevailing party to identify the docket number and the date the judgment was signed in the notice of entry of judgment; to serve a copy of the judgment with the notice of entry; and to file the notice of entry of judgment, but not the copy judgment. The “docket number” mentioned in the amendments refers not to the case number, but to the document ID number that is now available as soon as the judgment is filed through the Odyssey® electronic case filing system. North Dakota Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 24 - Supplemental Brief of Indigent Defendant: Rule 24 has been amended to decrease the pages allowed in a supplemental brief to 16 pages. Rule 32 - Form of Briefs, Appendices, and Other Papers: Rule 32 has been amended to decrease the page and type volume allowed in a primary brief to 8,000 words or 32 pages and in a response brief 2,000 words or 8 pages. Rule 40 - Petition for Rehearing: Rule 40 has been amended to decrease the page and type volume allowed in a petition for rehearing to 2,000 words or 8 pages. North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 3 - The Complaint: Rule 3 will allow the complaint to be presented to the magistrate by telephone or other reliable electronic means under new Rule 4.1. Rule 4 - Arrest Warrant or Summons upon Complaint: Rule 4 will allow the magistrate to issue a warrant or summons based on information communicated by telephone or other reliable electronic means under the procedure set out in new Rule 4.1. Rule 7 - The Indictment and the Information: Rule 7 has been amended to clarify that municipal ordinance cases transferred to district court under N.D.C.C. § 40-18-06.2 are not prosecuted in the name of the State. Rule 9 - Warrant or Summons upon Indictment or Information: Rule 9 has been amended to incorporate the provisions of Rule 4(b) concerning formal requirements for issuance of the warrant or summons. It will also allow the magistrate to issue a warrant or summons based on information communicated by telephone or other reliable electronic means under the procedure set out in new Rule 4.1. Rule 17 – Subpoena: Rule 17 has been amended to direct persons to new N.D.R.Ct. 5.1 for direction on how to proceed with discovery in North Dakota in an action pending in an out-of-state court. Rule 32.2 - Pretrial Diversion: Rule 32.2 has been amended to include payment of fees or costs as an additional condition to a pretrial diversion agreement. Rule 41 - Search and Seizure: Rule 41 has been amended to delete former language on issuing a warrant by remote communications or electronic transmission and instead to allow the magistrate to issue a warrant based Mike Hagburg Attorney at Law Numerous procedural rule changes take effect March 1 Every year, a sure sign of the coming of spring is the appearance of new rule books in the mail and new and amended procedural rules taking effect. The North Dakota Supreme Court’s annual rule amendments will take effect March 1. The Court has adopted two completely new rules. In the Rules of Criminal Procedure, new Rule 4.1 entitled “Complaint, Warrant, or Summons by Telephone or Other Reliable Electronic Means” establishes a uniform procedure for the magistrate to follow in considering information communicated by telephone or other reliable electronic means when reviewing a complaint or deciding whether to issue a warrant or summons. In the Rules of Court, new Rule 5.1 on “Interstate Depositions and Discovery” establishes a uniform procedure on proceeding with discovery in North Dakota in an action pending in an out-of-state court. This new rule was derived from the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which has been adopted so far by 29 states. In addition to the new rules, several procedural rule amendments will also take effect March 1. Here is a summary of these amendments: North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4 - Persons Subject to Jurisdiction; Process; Service: Rule 4(c)(3) on making a demand to file a complaint is being transferred to Rule 5. Rule 5 - Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers: The transferred language 22 The Gavel February 2013