From Ballotpedia | Local Courts |
|---|
|
| Trial courts and judges |
| Elections by state |
| Judicial selection by state |
| View courts by state: |
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This page is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
The North Dakota East Central Judicial District resides in North Dakota. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | Several waves of structural reform have led North Dakota to adopt a single level of general jurisdiction court, and that is the District Court. The District Court is a constitutionally created court and exercises original jurisdiction over all causes of action except those in which the legislature has provided otherwise. They also have appellate jurisdiction as provided by law or by Supreme Court rule. There is one district court in each of the 53 counties.[2] | ” |
The 42 judges of the North Dakota District Courts are selected in nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[3]
Policies on interim vacancies and qualifications are identical to those of the supreme court. The chief judge, however, is chosen by a vote of the judges in each district and serves in that capacity for three years.[3]
North Dakota is one of 10 states that uses nonpartisan elections to select judges and does not use retention elections for subsequent terms. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Primary elections take place on the second Tuesday of June. General elections take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years.
In the nonpartisan primary, the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes advance to the general election.
All candidates, whether opposed or unopposed, participate in the primary and general elections. If only two candidates are running for a seat, they compete in both elections.[4][5]



Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of North Dakota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of North Dakota
State courts:
North Dakota Supreme Court • North Dakota Court of Appeals • North Dakota District Courts • North Dakota Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Dakota • North Dakota judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Dakota
State of North Dakota Bismarck (capital) | |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
Categories: [Local courts outside coverage scope] [North Dakota]