North Dakota
North Dakota’s highest court is the North Dakota Supreme Court. The court has four justices and one chief justice. The chief justice is chosen for a five-year term by other members of the supreme court along with district judges. (Source: State of North Dakota Courts)
Judicial Selection
North Dakota Supreme Court justices are selected through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. The elected justice serves a 10-year term. Justices may seek additional terms through nonpartisan elections. When a seat opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. Alternatively, the governor may fill the seat by calling for a special election. An appointed justice holds office until North Dakota’s next general election more than two years after appointment, unless the remainder of the seat’s term runs out before then. The elected justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits, nor is there a mandatory retirement age.
State Constitution
North Dakota’s first and only state constitution was adopted in 1889. As of January 1, 2024, it had 162 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
Filters
Three U.S. Supreme Court Cases that Transformed State Judicial Elections
Judicial elections have become major political battlegrounds — complete with dark money, special interests, and attack ads — thanks to several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Every State Supreme Court Justice in One Searchable Database
A new resource from the State Law Research Initiative lets users sort the nation’s high court justices by state, professional background, party affiliation, and more.
How Courts Oversee Ballot Initiatives
State courts — and to some degree federal courts — play a significant role in every stage of the direct democracy process.
Texas Supreme Court to Determine Scope of ‘Medical Emergency’ Exceptions to Abortion Bans
The plaintiffs include 20 women who were denied abortion care and two doctors who say Texas’s abortion bans prevent them from meeting their ethical obligations.
New Findings Highlight Lack of Diversity on State Supreme Courts
More data and further scholarship is needed to devise policies for promoting a state bench that adequately represents the varied background of the public.
Scholarship Roundup: End of Semester Edition
Recent articles address states taking policy questions away from courts, standing in election cases, and state shadow dockets.
The Sorry State of Disclosure for State Supreme Court Justices
A new study reveals that disclosures by state supreme court justices are frequently hard to access and lack relevant financial information.
Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.