JUDGE WILLAM SEVERIN: Long-time municipal judge has stories to tell
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Judge William Severin didn’ t have a career in law in his sights until one cold winter day in 1974. A graduate of Bismarck High School, he attended college in Oregon and returned to North Dakota following his graduation.“ I was building houses and, one day, I decided it was too cold, so I applied to law school,” he notes.
He earned his juris doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law and was then appointed to the bench as Bismarck’ s municipal judge in 1982 and elected every four years beginning in 1984.“ When I first started, there were no computers or copy machines and no statewide database. We had to record everything on notecards,” says Severin.“ It wasn’ t until 1991 that a statewide system came into play.”
SHARING STORIES
Life before a statewide court system isn’ t the only recollection Severin has to share from his 42 years on the bench. He also authored a collection of stories and tall tales he heard over the years from defendants in his courtroom, aptly titled But, Judge: Excuses, Comments and Other Falsehoods.
Severin says throughout his career, he heard a variety of stories from first-time offenders as well as repeat offenders in the courtroom.“ The book is about the excuses I heard in the courtroom,” he says.“ I would write them down and they accumulated over the years. These are all the ones that just didn’ t make sense and none of the actual good excuses.”
The 72-page paperback is Severin’ s collection of anecdotes that span a career spent in not only the pursuit of fairness and justice, but also with an appreciation for the reprieve humor can bring to a situation, even in the courtroom. But, Judge is available for $ 5.95 on amazon. com.
However, Severin says his most memorable moment in the courtroom wasn’ t an excuse from a defendant.“ When I was just starting as a judge, I was in an older courtroom with shag carpet,” he notes.“ Someone made me mad during a hearing, and I raised the gavel, hit a cup of paper clips on the way down, which flew across the carpet, and the gavel broke. Everyone saw it and it was embarrassing, like getting your robe caught on your way into the courtroom.”
Judge Severin served 42 years as Bismarck ' s municipal judge.
“ I fixed the broken gavel and haven’ t used it since,” he continues.“ That was the last time I used a gavel.”
Judge Severin and his wife, Joan, pictured with the plaque naming Bismarck ' s municipal courtroom in his honor.
LEAVING A LEGACY
With more than four decades behind the bench, Severin made an impact on the city of Bismarck’ s municipal court system, as well as the lives of many defendants that came through the courtroom. To honor his dedication, the Bismarck Municipal Courtroom was renamed in his honor in a ceremony held June 30.
More than 75 family members, friends, and well-wishers, including current and former court staff, gathered outside the Burleigh County Courthouse because the crowd exceeded the courtroom’ s 32-person seating capacity. Severin was presented with a bronze plaque commemorating his career and the renaming, which now hangs outside the courtroom where he presided.
“ That’ s a great honor,” says Severin.“ You can walk out after 42 years and close the door, or you can leave a legacy.”
A BUSTLING RETIREMENT
In addition to his judicial work, Severin practiced law privately until 2020 and contributed to the North Dakota Supreme Court by updating and revising the North Dakota Municipal Benchbook. At the end of June 2024, Severin retired from the Bismarck municipal court.“ About a week after I retired from the court, I got a call from the city of Lincoln. I now serve as municipal judge in Lincoln one day a month.”
Severin also serves as a reserve municipal judge in Bismarck and Dickinson but says he has plenty of time to enjoy his retirement.“ I’ m not bored in my retirement,” he notes.
Having traveled to 80 countries, some multiple times, Severin says he has plans to continue to add to that list. In addition, he has a cabin in the Badlands at which he stays, and he frequently takes his dog to the Missouri River in Bismarck for exercise and exploring.“ It’ s really nice not having deadlines,” says Severin.
Looking back on his career in law, Severin says he has some advice for law students and young lawyers beginning their careers.“ Be a gentleman,” he notes.“ Treat people with respect and be fair.”
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