March 28 , 2023 Memorial Hall • Bismarck , North Dakota
They came from every corner of the state . From Bottineau to Bismarck . From Crosby to Cando . From Fargo to Fessenden . From Minot to Minto . From Noonan to Newburg . From Westhope to Wahpeton . From county courthouses and college campuses . From farms and ranches . From every office in the capitol . Politicians , judges , lawyers , neighbors , and friends . They all came . The place was filled to the rafters . Standing room only .
Our winter has been long and hard . It has lingered on . But this day , the sun came out . Its warmth radiated through the four-story windows on the south wall , heating the room and warming our hearts .
Today , the Chief was retiring .
Gerald W . VandeWalle :
• Number one in his law school class
• First Assistant Attorney General
• 44 years on the North Dakota Supreme Court
• 27 years as Chief Justice
• Bar association awards too numerous to mention
• Judicial awards too numerous to mention
• Law school awards too numerous to mention
• The North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award
The next day , the Supreme Court went back to work . Three days later , it issued 17 new opinions . The work of the Court goes on . Spring follows winter , even in North Dakota . They say God gives us memories so we have roses in winter . This day in the Memorial Hall will be remembered . The warmth of the sun radiating through the south windows was palpable . The warmth in that room radiated from something other than the sun . It was more than just the sunlight . It was a grace bestowed by the hand of another on this very special day .
We don ’ t retire a judge ’ s robe . We don ’ t give them nicknames . At least not for public attribution .
Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . once said , “ Longevity has its place .” He was right . And when combined with years of accomplishment , commitment , dedication , and decency , sometimes longevity is the legacy .
Memorial Hall has had celebrations , inaugurations , investitures , and memorials . It has never seen a crowd like this . The governor spoke , as did the attorney general , the chief justice , current justices , former justices , and a federal judge . His beloved assistant , Cathy Arneson spoke . And after all the speeches and accolades , the Chief stood at the podium in the middle of the sun-drenched hall and simply said : “ Thank you very much . Appreciate it .”
1 . Webster ’ s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary Deluxe Second Edition
Tom Dickson is a trial lawyer from Bismarck , N . D .
“ Wick ’ s approach to mediation was just right to break through the barriers of our case and reach a fair outcome .”
Ariston Johnson , Watford City , ND
SPRING 2023 13