New District Court Judges
Four new district court judges have been elected or appointed to the bench since early 2020 , but due to the COVID-19 pandemic , this was done without the traditional investiture ceremonies that mark these momentous occasions . The Gavel interviewed the state ’ s newest district court judges and a brief introduction to each judge is included below .
JUDGE REID BRADY East Central Judicial District
Judge Reid Brady took an interest in law in his third year of college . “ The law struck me as a challenging and potentially rewarding field ,” he notes .
He attended the University of North Dakota School of Law and following graduation , clerked for former North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Carol Kapsner . He then worked for the North Dakota Attorney General ’ s Office in the civil litigation division . He said he benefited greatly from the mentoring he received in these positions , while also honing his research and writing skills and collaborating with colleagues and defense attorneys .
Brady says stepping into the role of a judge provides him with the opportunity to serve in a new and fulfilling way . “ Transferring from a role involving advocacy to one of neutrality was appealing ,” he says . “ Also appealing was the potential to provide parties with a fair and respectful environment to appear and present their cases .”
As a judge , Brady hopes to increase his working knowledge in multiple areas of law . “ Because it is an issue that recurs frequently , family law has been one of my first target areas of study . A similar goal is to master the procedure and practices used in the various civil hearings , and a more measurable goal is to meet docket currency standards .”
Judge Brady currently serves on the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and has been honored by SBAND for his community service .
JUDGE KARI AGOTNESS Northeast Judicial District
Judge Kari Agotness graduated from the UND School of Law . Prior to law school , she received a Peace Officers Certificate from Lake Region State College and a bachelors degrees in criminal justice and sociology from UND . Following law school , she worked for the Jamestown Child Support Unit , as the Ramsey County Clerk of Court , and the Ramsey County State ’ s Attorney . She was appointed to the district court judgeship in February .
She says her background , from her time spent as an officer , as an advocate her role as a clerk of court , and as an attorney , has prepared her for the bench . “ I knew the process of the internal workings of the judicial district ,” Agotness notes . “ I understood the administrative responsibilities of a judge and the importance of timely resolution of cases .”
The ability to study and practice a wide range of the law drew her to apply for a judgeship , she says . “ Most important to me was working with people ,” Agotness notes . “ My goals are to make all parties feel their cases have been given serious consideration . Treating all parties with respect , and making fair , timely , and reasoned decisions .”
Agotness is a member of the Lake River Bar Association and a Fellow of the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management in Williamsburg , Va .
10 THE GAVEL