GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBER
North Dakota Representative Lawrence Klemin Honored with National Juvenile Justice Award
GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBER
Robin Johansen
SBAND Board Member
What is your current position?
I am currently a staff attorney for the East Central Judicial District in Fargo.
What is your hometown, college attended, and law school attended?
I graduated high school from Larimore, North Dakota. I received my bachelor’ s degree from North Dakota State University( NDSU) and my J. D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
What professional work did you do before law school?
After graduating from NDSU, I did inventory replenishment and billing for hospital medical equipment. I also worked as an office assistant for a private law firm, which inspired me to go to law school.
What led you to a career in law?
Growing up, I had family in law enforcement, which sparked my interest in the legal system. After starting my coursework in criminal justice at NDSU, I knew I wanted to go to law school when the time was right. I am glad I took a few years off before going back to get my J. D., as I was able to gain invaluable experience working with attorneys here in Fargo.
How long have you been on the SBAND Board?
This is my first year as an SBAND Board member. I began my term in June 2025.
What other involvement have you had with SBAND prior to being on the Board?
Other than being a member since September of 2019, I have not had much direct involvement with SBAND. I attend as many events as possible and look forward to additional involvement in the future.
What is your favorite quote?
“ Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.” – Brenè Brown
What is the last book you read( good or bad)?“ We Were Liars,” by E. Lockhart.
North Dakota Representative Lawrence Klemin Honored with National Juvenile Justice Award
The Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators( CJJA) awarded North Dakota State Representative Lawrence Klemin with the 2025 Inspirational Innovation Award in recognition of his leadership and groundbreaking contributions to juvenile justice reform. The award was presented during the CJJA Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum in Denver, Colorado.
The Inspirational Innovation Award celebrates individuals who demonstrate visionary thinking, impactful solutions, collaborative leadership, and resilience in the face of challenges. Recipients are recognized for their ability to reimagine juvenile justice systems to better serve youth, families, and communities across the nation.
Klemin played a pivotal role in advancing North Dakota’ s historic juvenile justice reform efforts. Over the course of several years, he championed legislation that decriminalized status offenses, ensured counsel for all youth, reduced reliance on detention, clarified statutes, and strengthened protections for vulnerable young people. His leadership in facilitating bipartisan collaboration and guiding more than 120 pages of legislation into law has positioned North Dakota as a national model for evidence-based juvenile justice reform.
“ Representative Klemin’ s vision and leadership transformed North Dakota’ s juvenile justice system,” said Lisa Bjergaard, director of the Division of Juvenile Services.“ His commitment to research-based solutions, collaboration, and fairness has created lasting protections for vulnerable youth and set a national standard for reform. We are proud to see his work recognized at this level.”
Klemin has represented District 47 in Bismarck since 1998. During his tenure, he has held numerous leadership roles in the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, including serving as Speaker of the House. He currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee and has also contributed his expertise as a member of the North Dakota Commission on Juvenile Justice.
The CJJA is a national nonprofit organization comprised of juvenile justice agency leaders dedicated to improving youth outcomes and public safety. Each year, its awards honor leaders whose vision and innovation drive meaningful change in the juvenile justice field.
North Dakota State Representative Lawrence Klemin with the 2025 Inspirational Innovation Award.
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