Maring Receives SBAND
Distinguished Service Award
The SBAND Distinguished Service Award is the most prestigious award the association
bestows. It honors a member of the profession who has provided outstanding service to
the state and legal community over an extended career. The Distinguished Service Award
plaque, which hangs outside the North Dakota Supreme Court, is intended to permanently
honor recipients and remind lawyers and the public of their dedication and work.
This year’s award was presented to Mary Muehlen Maring, a retired North Dakota
Supreme Court Justice who spent nearly 18 years serving on the state’s top court. Prior to
her appointment to the North Dakota Supreme Court, she worked for 20 years as a civil
trial attorney in both Minnesota and North Dakota. She now works as a mediator at Klein
Maring Mediation, where she meets with parties to a dispute to build communication in
search of a mutually agreeable resolution.
In her acceptance speech, which is transcribed below, she spoke of a responsibility to
service as a lawyer that goes beyond the clients and courts, and encouraged those in the
profession to step into leadership and service roles.
“Thank you so much for this honor. The mission of the State Bar Association is to promote justice
and to serve the lawyers and the people of the State of North Dakota. The mission is in line
with what the Preamble to the ND Rules of Professional Conduct and the ND Aspirations of
Professionalism and Civility say about the responsibilities of a lawyer. We are citizens ‘having
special responsibility for the quality of Justice.’”
My reference to these rules and aspirations is meant to be a reminder that we have responsibilities
that go beyond those owed to clients and the courts. We have a responsibility to volunteer our time
and energy to the various committees and sections of the State Bar Association. We are needed
–from helping low-income people gain access to justice, to helping members of our profession who
face addiction, to serving on a committee that improves our justice system. There are so many ways
we can serve.
My involvement in Bar Association activities began in 1975. In 1979, I was asked to be the
chair for the newsletter for the Young Lawyers Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
I was hesitant, but at the urging of my good law
school friend Sheryl Ramstad I said ‘yes.’ That
encouragement started me on my path of service
to both the Minnesota and North Dakota Bar
Associations.
Encourage each other to become involved. Older
lawyers please encourage younger lawyers. Law firms
encourage your lawyers to be active and recognize
the value of the time that is put into Bar Association
involvement. I was fortunate that the first law firm I
joined encouraged and supported involvement in the
Bar Association. No one does anything alone. There
are always others to encourage us and believe in us.
I am one of those lucky people who have had these
people in my life. Great parents, good friends, people
who encouraged me to step into leadership roles, and
then there is my partner of 40 years, my husband,
David, who is my biggest supporter and fan. I left
him alone many weekends to take care of our two
sons when I was off to one meeting or another.
I do believe leadership is developed. I encourage you
to grab all the opportunities that come your way to
lead. Remember you do not need to be the president
or chair to be a leader. Our careers as lawyers are
both challenging and rewarding –more rewarding,
however, if we become involved in service to our
profession and our community. I challenge you to live
up to your responsibilities to our profession.
(L to R) Aubrey Fiebelkorn-Zuger, Distinguished Sevice Award Winner Mary Muehlen
Maring, and former SBAND President Joe Wetch.
12
THE GAVEL
Forty-one years after graduating from law school,
I can tell you, without reservation, I am proud to
be a lawyer. I am proud to be a member of the legal
profession. And as David L. Peterson said when he
received this very award, ‘I cannot imagine any other
profession or occupation that could have been more
enjoyable for me than this one.’”