New Supreme Court Justice Mark A. Friese: Bringing diverse experience to the bench
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Supreme Court Justice Mark A. Friese’ s journey to a career in law wasn’ t a short one. Following years of experience in the military and in law enforcement, as well as encouragement from others, he applied to law school and became an attorney in 2000.
It was his experience as a private practice lawyer, and specifically in criminal defense, which spurred others to encourage him to apply for an open position on the North Dakota Supreme Court.“ Several colleagues and friends encouraged me to apply for the vacancy resulting from Justice Crothers’ retirement,” Friese notes.“ Those urging me to apply expressed opinions that former private practice lawyers and those with criminal defense experience are historically underrepresented on the court.”
Friese was appointed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to the state’ s Supreme Court in February and sworn in at an investiture on May 1 in the House Chambers at the North Dakota State Capitol.“ I am hopeful that my experiences will provide perspective, insight, and objectivity,” he says.“ I am humbled – and admittedly a bit intimidated – to join a court of such highly successful, distinguished, and experienced justices.”
PLANTING THE SEED
Justice Mark A. Friese
Born in Minot and raised in Bismarck, Friese earned undergraduate degrees in criminal justice and social / behavioral sciences from Bismarck State College and the University of Mary in Bismarck.“ I joined the Army National Guard at age 17,” he says.“ After more than five years of enlisted service, I attained a commission as an engineer officer. Around the same time, I married my high school sweetheart, Roxanne, and began employment as a patrol officer for the Bismarck Police Department. I also returned to college part-time to complete a bachelor’ s degree.”
He says it was at the police academy that he first considered going to law school.“ Jim Vukelic, then assistant attorney general, taught criminal procedure. Jim complimented me for my interest and interaction, encouraging me to consider seeking a law degree,” Friese notes.“ I had no interest in doing so, but Jim planted a seed.”
Basic Training, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, 1987
Over the next several years, Friese had the opportunity to observe the work of dozens of local prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges.“ Based on that exposure, my military and police experiences, completing my undergraduate degree, and a suggestion by a police academy instructor years earlier, I applied for law school.”
He notes one more important person assured him he was making the right career move.“ Once accepted, with the encouragement and approval of my wife, we moved to Grand Forks to study law.”
A NEW CAREER IN LAW
Bismarck Police Department, 1994
Justice Friese was sworn in by Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers on May 1.
Friese graduated from the University of North Dakota( UND) School of Law in 2000 and served as judicial law clerk to North
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