GERALD W . VANDEWALLE MEDAL
The Gerald W . VandeWalle Medal was created by the board of governors in 2017 to recognize individuals for their significant dedication and contributions to the administration of justice or the improvement of the judicial system . The award , which need not be given every year , honors an individual or individuals who bring credit to the State of North Dakota and its judicial system or to the administration of justice in North Dakota or the United States . The recipient needs to not be an attorney but should be a current or former resident of the State of North Dakota . The president of the association shall consult with the Chief Justice or members of the judicial branch to identify worthy recipients of this award , and the award is presented at the annual meeting of the association .
The 2022 recipient of the Gerald W VandeWalle medal is Eighth Circuit Judge Ralph R . Erickson . Judge Erickson has served at every level of judicial service , from local county magistrate to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals . He is only the second graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law to serve as a United States Circuit Judge .
Judge Erickson is a 1977 graduate of Rugby High School . He received a bachelor of arts degree from Jamestown College in 1980 , and a juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1984 . He was in private practice for 10 years in West Fargo , practicing primarily in the areas of personal injury litigation , family law , criminal law , and worker ’ s compensation . He served as an assistant city attorney for West Fargo , where he prosecuted in both municipal and county courts . He served as a magistrate judge of Cass County from 1993 to 1994 . He served as a county judge for Traill , Steele , Nelson , and Griggs counties in 1994 . In 1994 , Judge Erickson was elected as a state district court judge in the East Central Judicial District of North Dakota . While serving as a state district court judge , Judge Erickson successfully lobbied the North Dakota Legislature for a needed pay increase for state court judges .
VandeWalle Medal recipient Judge Ralph R . Erickson , left , with Past-President Hon . Doug Bahr .
On January 7 , 2003 , Judge Erickson was nominated by President George W . Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota . After being confirmed by the United States Senate , Judge Erickson received his judicial commission on March 14 , 2003 . As one of two active Article III Judges in North Dakota , Judge Erickson presided over thousands of civil and criminal cases , including the trial of Alfonso Rodriguez , Jr ., North Dakota ’ s only federal death penalty case . Judge Erickson also enjoined the Environmental Protection Agency concerning agency interpretation of the Waters of the United States . In United States v . Roman Cavanaugh , Jr ., Judge
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Erickson ’ s position was approved by the United States Supreme Court regarding the use of uncounseled tribal court convictions for purposes of federal sentencing enhancements .
On June 7 , 2017 , President Donald Trump nominated Judge Erickson to serve as a United States Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit . He was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 95 to 1 and received his judicial commission on October 12 , 2017 .
Judge Erickson recently completed service as chairperson of the United States Judicial Conference Committee on Codes of Conduct for United States Judges . He was asked to serve as chair of this important committee by the Chief Justice of the United States , John Roberts . He is chair of the Tribal Issues Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission . Chief Judge Lavenski R . Smith recently appointed Judge Erickson to serve as chair of the Eighth Circuit Task Force on Judicial Conflicts . He is a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the Cass County Bar Association .
Judge Erickson is a North Dakota success story : from a Rugby High School Panther to the pinnacle of federal judicial service . Judge Erickson is a judges ’ judge , and his record of judicial service at all levels of government is significant and worthy of recognition .
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