North Dakota Supreme Court
Bismarck · A court of last resort in North Dakota.
The North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in North Dakota. Its justices are chosen by nonpartisan election. This page lists every justice to serve on the court, current and former, with when they joined the bench and whom they succeeded.
Current bench verified against the court’s official roster, 2026-07-02.
Current justices
Former justices
| Justice | Years |
|---|---|
| Daniel John Crothers | 2005 |
| Carol Ronning Kapsner | 1998 |
| Mary Muehlen Maring | 1996–2013 |
| William A. Neumann | 1993–2005 |
| Dale V. Sandstrom | 1992 |
| Beryl J. Levine | 1985–1996 |
| Herbert L. Meschke | 1985–1998 |
| Herman Fredrick Gierke III | 1983–1991 |
| Gerald W. VandeWalle | 1979 |
| Vernon R. Pederson | 1975–1985 |
| Paul M. Sand | 1975–1984 |
| J. Philip Johnson | 1974–1992 |
| Robert Vogel | 1973–1978 |
| Williiam S. Murray | 1966–1966 |
| William L. Paulson | 1966–1983 |
| Harvey B. Knudson | 1965–1975 |
| Ralph John Erickstad | 1963–1992 |
| Alvin C. Strutz | 1959–1973 |
| Obert C. Teigen | 1959–1974 |
| Nels G. Johnson | 1954–1958 |
| Peter O. Sathre | 1950–1962 |
| Gudmundur Grimson | 1949–1958 |
| Thomas Joseph Burke | 1939–1966 |
| James Morris | 1935–1964 |
| Alexander Burr | 1926–1941 |
| William L. Nuessle | 1923–1951 |
| Adolph M. Christianson | 1915–1954 |
How a justice reaches this court. Justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 10-year terms. Justices are elected on a no-party ballot to ten-year terms. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any justice to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: Current roster: North Dakota Court System (ndcourts.gov) — Current Supreme Court Justices and CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-07-02 (official roster); historical bench 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).