business processes have been implemented, and rule and policy
amendments for which I advocated were implemented,” Miller says.
“My willingness to take on challenges and advancing the role of the
Clerk’s office in the appellate process will be my legacy.”
Memorable Moments
Miller says it is difficult to choose specific highlights from her career,
but she says many memorable projects relate to technology solutions
and system upgrades. “The unification of the judicial system to a onelevel
district court system, and the decrease in the number of district
judges was a major systemic change during my tenure, which still
impacts the Justices and the Clerk’s office,” she notes.
Another impactful administrative matter took place during the
Dakota Access Pipeline protests, in which a petition was submitted
to amend the Admission to Practice Rules to allow out-ofstate
attorneys to represent individuals arrested without all the
requirements for other out-of-state attorneys. “A notice of comment
was issued, and thousands of comments were received, many of
which were the exact copy of an earlier e-mail comment,” says Miller.
“This required the clerk’s office to implement streamlining procedures
to allow the non-duplicative comments to be timely distributed and
reviewed by the Justices.”
Miller says her most memorable experiences were outside of the
Supreme Court on trips to schools with the Justices. “It was fun to
see the Justices out of chambers and enjoying visiting with people
of all ages. Every trip allowed students to see the Justices in an
argument, but also out of ‘uniform’ and enjoying time with them.”
She says while there were many memorable cases during her career,
she remained focused on the work to move them through the court
system. “My focus was on ensuring all cases moved through the
Supreme Court according to the rules, promptly calendared for
argument, the appropriate documents distributed to Justices and
assigned legal staff, and when a case was decided, disseminate the
decision.”
Professional Activities
Miller was a member of the National Conference of Appellate Court
Clerks until her retirement, serving as president from 2001-2002 as
well as a chair and member of many of the organization’s committees.
In 2004, she was honored with the organization’s J.O. Sentell Award,
the highest award given to a member.
She was also a member of the Council of Bar Admissions
Administrators and in 2015, was honored with the Outstanding
Administrator Award from the National Conference of Bar
Examiners. In 2019, the Western Dakota Association of Legal
Assistants presented Miller with the Legacy Award in recognition
of her commitment to advancing the paralegal profession with
dedication and distinction. Most recently, she was awarded SBAND’s
Gerald W. VandeWalle Medal (see page 17).
Miller served on a number of ad hoc committees for the
improvement of the judicial system, including the Multijurisdictional
Practice Task Force, the Attorney Standards Committee, the State
Team on Pro Se Litigation, the Court Technology Committee,
Personnel Policy Board for the North Dakota Judicial System, the
North Dakota Judicial Conference, SBAND, and Court Consulting
Services Advisory Council for the National Center for State Courts.
“I have also presented educational seminars on appellate procedure to
attorneys, legal assistants, and clerks of district courts,” she notes.
For students looking to enter a law career, Miller encourages them to
work to find balance in their careers. “Be prepared to work hard on
your cases, but also in keeping attorneys at law as a profession, not a
job. Keeping all this in mind, balance it with time for your family and
community,” she says.
Retirement Plans
Miller says in her retirement she looks forward to having more time
to do the things she enjoys, which include gardening, baking, and
spending time with her granddaughters. She also looks forward to
spending time with family, and hopes to travel and reconnect with
friends.
The individuals she worked with at the North Dakota Supreme
Court, as well as her national colleagues, are who Miller says
she misses most in her retirement. “I also always enjoyed my
conversations with members of the bar, even if they became a little
‘passionate’ at times. Those conversations always made me think and
review past and future actions of my office.”
Many of Miller's family members attended her retirement reception in
December.
Miller and her husband,
Doug Mattson, with their
granddaughters on Marco
Island.
Miller with her husband, stepson, daughter-in-law,
and granddaughters in December.
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