Welte Embraces New Role
as U.S. District Court Judge
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Peter Welte’s confirmation as a U.S. District Court Judge in the U.S.
District Court District of North Dakota was both a humbling and
honoring moment, he says. “It was a privilege to be preliminarily
selected and then nominated and confirmed,” says Welte.
The position, vacated when Judge Ralph R. Erickson was promoted
to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, was vacant for
nearly two years, and Welte’s confirmation by the U.S. Senate came
more than six months after his nomination from President Donald
Trump. He assumed the role of U.S. District Court Judge on July 30.
“It is humbling to be selected to serve in this position of public trust,”
he says.
An Early Interest in Law
“I was interested in law from a very early age,” says Welte. “My
primary inspiration to become a lawyer was a desire to help people
who needed help when faced with unanticipated adversity. A
secondary motivation was a strong desire to stay involved in the
family farm. Since we are small grains farmers, I needed a career to
work at during the non-farming months.”
Welte grew up on his family’s farm in southwest Grand Forks
County, near Northwood. He attended school in Northwood,
graduating in 1984. He received a bachelor of science degree from
North Dakota State University in 1989 and graduated with a juris
doctor degree with distinction from the University of North Dakota
(UND) School of Law in 1997.
Today, his parents still live on the farm, and Welte and his wife, Lisa,
along with their two children, Cole and Kellie, reside near Larimore,
not far from the family farm. “Spending time with family is my
favorite hobby and activity,” says Welte. “Farming and spending time
outdoors is also a favorite pastime.”
A Career in Law
Up until Welte assumed the
judgeship, he worked in private
practice at Vogel Law Firm in
Judge Peter Welte
Grand Forks and prior served as
Grand Forks County State’s Attorney. In addition, he served as an
adjunct instructor of law at the UND School of Law and continued
to work as a small grains farmer. An active member of SBAND,
Welte most recently served on the Board of Governors and the
Continuing Legal Education Committee. He also served on the
Judicial Nominating Committee for the Northeast Central Judicial
District and the Annual Meeting Planning Committee. In 2015, he
was awarded SBAND’s Community Service Award for the Northeast
Central Judicial District.
Welte has also served on numerous committees for the North
Dakota Supreme Court and has been an active member of the
Greater Grand Forks County Bar Association, as well as other state
and community organization.
Joining the Judgeship
“I think the broad, well-rounded nature of my career and work
experience has helped me to understand there are at least two sides to
every case,” says Welte. “I know that being a farmer, a husband, and
a parent has helped me to better understand the real lives that are
affected in each case. There is humanity in each case to come before
the federal court; a judge must never lose sight of the humanity and
the way people are impacted by a judge’s decisions.”
Welte says he has enjoyed his new role as U.S. District Court Judge.
“The day-to-day activity and pace are remarkable, and the quality
of representation, on both sides of the aisle, makes coming to work
much easier,” he notes. “There are too many wonderful parts about
this job to mention.”
But he says he also understands the importance of the work he
is doing on the bench. “There is a quote, ‘When a judge sits in
judgment of a fellow man, he should feel as if a sword is pointed at
his own heart.’ That is true, and it’s even more true in federal court,”
says Welte.
Judge Welte, back center, along with Judge Erickson, back right, and
Welte’s family after he took his oath of office on Aug. 6.
6
THE GAVEL
“I believe that North Dakota is the greatest state in the nation, and
that the people of North Dakota are the same,” he continues. “It’s a
profound privilege to serve these people, and the United States, in
this position. I am grateful and I am humbled to do so.”