SBAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOCUSING ON THE IMPACTS
OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
fiscally responsible while doing more with
less, retaining the operating and personnel
expenses necessary to meet its constitutional
and statutory requirements.
TONY J. WEILER
SBAND Executive Director
The legislators have come and gone! The
65th Legislative Session finished its work
on April 27, after being in session for 77
days. Under North Dakota’s constitution,
the legislature may meet for 80 days each
biennium. That means the legislators could
return to Bismarck for 3 days before the next
legislative session in 2019.
The biennial state budget is always a focus
of the legislative session. Because of its
importance to SBAND, the court system
budget was a priority. This session, the
legislators were dealing with less income, and
many state budgets were reduced.
The North Dakota Court System (Court)
was no exception. The Judicial Branch
appropriation funds the personnel, programs,
and operating costs of the Supreme Court,
the district courts, and the Judicial Conduct
Commission and Disciplinary Board. The
Court’s 2017-19 budget request was a
reduction of close to $11 million from the
previous biennium. The reduced budget
required the Court to cut three judicial
referees around the state and one court
recorder. Had these cuts not been necessary,
the Court likely would have transferred the
positions to another state to deal with a
shortage in judges. The Court also imposed a
hiring freeze as a result of budget reductions
and held open an average of 20 positions
per month going back to 2016. The final
budget will allow the Court to remain
Other important legislation was adopted
during the session. SBAND did not take
a position on many pieces of legislation,
but instead focused on providing technical
assistance to legislators. SBAND tracked,
supported, and provided technical assistance
on several other bills during the session.
The legislative session always provides an
opportunity for the legal profession to
provide insight and expertise when the
drafted bills could impact the practice of law,
and more importantly, the clients lawyers
serve. S BAND will host a CLE with detailed
information concerning legislation that
impacts lawyers and the legal system on
May 17 at 1 p.m. Additional information
about the session is available on the SBAND
website, www.sband.org.
There were eight lawyer legislators serving
this session – the profession was well
represented! There were many lawyer
lobbyists who greatly assisted the legislative
committees and were a great resource on
many issues. Legislators often tell me the
lobbyists are a great source of information
and expertise, and they assist in the work
being done. The real work, however, is done
by our legislators. They do work tirelessly
on many important bills, and at the expense
of being away from their professions and
families. They really do deserve our thanks
for their service. If you see one of them in
your community, take the time to tell them
what they do is appreciated.
Annual Meeting
“Make the Right Call” is the theme of
the annual meeting to be held in Fargo
June 14-16. The annual meeting will focus
on how North Dakota’s legal community can
“make the right call” in working with clients
and will provide an opportunity to meet with
long-time friends and make new ones. Our
featured speaker is NFL referee and trial
lawyer Ed Hoculi. This annual meeting will
have seminars on communication for lawyers,
memory power, and Fourth Amendment
issues, as well as a Lawyer Assistance
Program sponsored program entitled “Joyful
Journey” and many others. The annual Mart
Vogel Lecture will provide an opportunity
to consider issues impacting professionalism
and legal ethics.
Social activities will include a golf
tournament at The Meadows Golf Club,
an opening night social at the Sanctuary
in downtown Fargo, SBAND’s annual law
school luncheon and awards program, and
Thursday evening festivities at the Avalon
Event Center. Plan to bid generously at
the Bar Foundation’s silent auction and to
purchase a lot of raffle tickets for a quilt
made by SBAND members. Registration
is open now on SBAND’s website,
www.sband.org.
Staff Update
SBAND has contracted with SBAND
member Jennifer Hauge to provide services
to our committees and sections. Part of
our two-year strategic plan includes a
revitalization of both, and Hauge will
assist in that endeavor. She was previously
contracted with the Supreme Court to
provide contract staff services to the Pattern
Jury Instruction Commission and will
continue that role while with SBAND. We
are excited to have a lawyer as part of our
SBAND team!
SPRING 2017
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