Spring 2020 Gavel 268650 SBAND Gavel Magazine_web | Page 11

Justice VandeWalle is beloved and respected far and wide. I am one of those admirers for reasons
including his many important and significant contributions to our legal system, but especially because
he genuinely and sincerely cares about all of us involved with the system. It is the impression he made
on me when I first met him nearly 25 years ago as a law clerk to Justice Neumann at the North Dakota
Supreme Court, and it is how he has conducted himself in all these years since in my interactions with
him. Justice VandeWalle has always greeted me warmly, asked about me and my family, and shared
his time freely with me. He has made a difference in the lives of so many, including me. – Tracy Kolb
n My first encounter with Justice Gerald VandeWalle made a
profound impact upon me. It was 1979. Justice VandeWalle
had been appointed and then elected to the Supreme Court
in 1978. As the newest Justice, he was dispatched to the UND
Law School to represent the Supreme Court at a law school
function. As part of the festivities, Justice VandeWalle attended
a dinner with a handful of law students. I was at the dinner. I
really wasn’t looking forward to the dinner because, as any law
student will tell you, any activity that intrudes upon your study
time is not a welcome one. Moreover, I was very concerned about
my ability to keep up my end of the conversation with a sitting
Supreme Court Justice. Since I had never met a Supreme Court
Justice, my view of what a Justice was like was somewhat skewed.
My expectation was that the conversation would be stuffy and
perhaps boring. My words would have to be carefully chosen
because, of course, a Supreme Court Justice would carry some
degree of arrogance and condescension, and I was fearful I might
say something that was deemed less than intelligent – or worse
yet, offensive – to the haughty Supreme Court Justice.
All of my fears and preconceptions disappeared within minutes
after meeting Jerry VandeWalle. Although we were only
lowly law students, Justice VandeWalle treated all of us with
the highest degree of respect. He was genuinely interested in
each of us, and spent the evening discovering more about our
interests and backgrounds. It surprised me then, but after having
witnessed this many times over, this is no longer a surprise, that
when I mentioned I was from Wahpeton, Justice VandeWalle
knew some of the same people I knew and was able to tell me
stories about them, and then he was able to continue on to
stories about their relatives. Whether Justice VandeWalle is
talking to somebody from Wahpeton, Wilton, or Williston, he
still has an amazing recollection of names and relationships.
The dinner that evening lasted nearly three hours, but it
passed all too quickly. The topics of conversation ranged from
families, to hobbies, to interests, to gardening, to art, and even
philosophy. Justice VandeWalle clearly led the conversation even
though he spent much of the time listening. His wit and humor
unexpectedly captivated all of us. (I’m not sure why, but I never
expected a Supreme Court Justice to have a sense of humor!)
During this initial meeting, I was extraordinarily impressed with
Justice VandeWalle’s warmth and genuineness. He was obviously
dedicated to his family and impressed upon us the importance
of ours. He was kind and considerate and impressed upon us
the importance of being considerate to others regardless of
occupation or status. He talked about the “higher calling” that
represented the practice of law and impressed upon us the values
of professionalism and collegiality. Finally, Justice VandeWalle
demonstrated an unexpected humility that would leave a
stranger never able to guess that he was a Supreme Court Justice.
The dinner was over 40 years ago but remains a fond memory
even today. Justice VandeWalle perhaps never realized the impact
he had upon this lowly law student that evening. Nonetheless,
many of the lessons I learned from Justice VandeWalle that
evening have been a valuable guide throughout my legal
career. Humility. Kindness. Consideration toward others. The
importance of family. Professionalism. And not lost upon
me, was the principle that “nice guys” can finish first. Justice
VandeWalle has gone on to many achievements since our initial
meeting. However, he remains the same kind, humble, witty,
intelligent, and talented man whom I first met as a law student.
I frequently cross paths with Justice VandeWalle at legal, court,
or bar association activities. Each time I see him, I am taken
back to the warmth and fond memories of a dinner on a cold
evening in Grand Forks many years ago. And I smile.
– Michael J. Williams
SPRING 2020
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