North Dakota Supreme Court

Highest court in the U.S. state of North Dakota

North Dakota Supreme Court

Seal

Established| 1889
Jurisdiction| North Dakota
Location| Bismarck, North Dakota
Composition method| Non-partisan election
Authorised by| Constitution of North Dakota
Appeals to| Supreme Court of the United States
Judge term length| 10 years
Number of positions| 5
Website| Official website
Chief Justice
Currently| Jon J. Jensen
Since| 2020
Lead position ends| 2025
Jurist term ends| 2030

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

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Main articles: List of North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justices and List of justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court

### Current composition

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Justice  | Born  | Joined  | Chief Justice  | Term ends  | Appointed by  | Law school

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Jon J. Jensen, Chief Justice | 1965 (age 58-59)  | August 15, 2017 | 2020–present  | 2030  | Doug Burgum (R)  | North Dakota
Daniel J. Crothers |  (1957-01-03) January 3, 1957 (age 67) | June 2005 | – | 2032  | John Hoeven (R)  | North Dakota
Lisa K. Fair McEvers | 1962 (age 61-62)  | January 1, 2014 | – | 2028  | Jack Dalrymple (R)  | North Dakota
Jerod E. Tufte |  (1975-04-09) April 9, 1975 (age 49) | 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

1. ^ Took office after being elected in a nonpartisan election.

## References

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1. ^ "North Dakota Constitution – ARTICLE VI JUDICIAL BRANCH" (PDF).
2. ^ Turley, Jeremy (January 9, 2023). "Raising the Bahr: Burgum taps judge to join North Dakota Supreme Court". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

## External links

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* Official website

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State government of North Dakota

* State Capitol
* North Dakota Constitution
* Coat of Arms
* Flag
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Executive branch|

* Governor
* Agriculture Commissioner
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* Auditor
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Legislative branch|

* Legislative Assembly
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Judicial branch|

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Departments and divisions|

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Boards and commissions|

* Board of Higher Education
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