North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum named a veteran judge and litigator Monday to replace Justice Gerald VandeWalle, who had been the longest-serving chief justice in state history.
Justice Douglas Bahr will join the North Dakota Supreme Court on February 1 after serving on the South Central Judicial District since 2018, when Burgum first appointed him to the position.
“Justice Bahr will be an excellent addition to the North Dakota Supreme Court with his extensive legal experience in the public and private sectors and his extensive experience at both the state and federal levels,” Burgum said in a statement.
COMPETITIONS IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT GET MORE ATTENTION FROM VOTERS, NATIONAL PARTIES
North Dakota Republican Governor Doug Burgum to Appoint District Judge Douglas Bahr to State Supreme Court
(FoxNews)
Bahr has practiced law for 27 years, including 25 in the state attorney general’s office. He was Assistant Attorney General from 1991 to 1998 and Director of the Civil Litigation Division from 1999 to 2016. He has appeared numerous times before the North Dakota Supreme Court and the US 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“His analytical skills, compassion, high integrity and character, sense of fundamental justice and deep knowledge of the law will serve our state’s highest court well,” Burgum said.
NORTH DAKOTA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE GERALD VANDEWALLE ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT DUE TO HEALTH REASONS
VandeWalle, 89, announced in November that he was retiring for health reasons. He has served 44 years on the Supreme Court, including 27 years as Chief Justice, from 1993 until 2019, when he did not seek re-election as president. He will remain on the court until January 31.
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Bahr can serve until the 2026 general election, when he would have to run again.
