DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
The Distinguished Service Award , created in 1980 by the board of governors , is the most prestigious award given by the association . The award recognizes the efforts of its most outstanding members and 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 courtroom of the North Dakota Supreme Court , is intended to permanently honor recipients and remind us of their dedication and work .
This year ’ s award was presented to Michael S . McGinniss , Dean of the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law , in appreciation of his service to the UND School of Law , the state , and the law profession .
McGinniss earned a bachelor ’ s degree in English at Washington College and graduated third in his class at the College of William & Mary , Marshall-Wythe School of Law . He served as a law clerk for Justice Randy J . Holland of the Supreme Court of Delaware . He then worked at a law firm in Delaware , where he focused on intellectual property litigation . In 1998 , the Supreme Court of Delaware appointed him to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel , where he spent 12 years .
When McGinniss began at the UND School of Law in 2010 , he immediately and selflessly became involved in the State Bar Association of North Dakota ( SBAND ). While he was not yet a member of SBAND , McGinniss used his academic credentials and expertise in lawyer regulation to assist the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court and the Joint Attorney Standards Committee , including serving as chair . When the lawyer disciplinary system was revamped in North Dakota , McGinniss served on the Rules Planning Committee . He has served as president of the Randy H . Lee American Inn of Court in Grand Forks and is an elected member of the American Law Institute .
Dean Michael McGinniss , left , is presented with the Distinguished Service Award by SBAND Past-President Hon . Doug Bahr .
McGinniss became dean of the UND School of Law at a tumultuous time , after years of budget cuts and mistreatment . It was on the cusp of losing its accreditation from the American Bar Association and enrollment was at an all-time low .
On February 26 , 2019 , McGinniss was named dean of the School of Law . He immediately worked with SBAND to secure increased funding for the UND School of Law from the North Dakota Legislature .
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That work resulted in a nearly $ 2.8 million increase in funding during the 2019- 2021 biennium . With his work with the legislature , McGinniss earned the respect and admiration of several members .
As college enrollments were expected to decline during the nationwide pandemic , the law school experienced a 5 % increase in enrollment with what President Andrew Armacost described as “ a diverse group of new students .” The law school has continued to increase enrollment , with first-year classes now at capacity . Bar passage rates , which were slumping in previous years , have also increased at the law school .
In May 2021 , McGinniss decided to conclude his deanship and return to his role as a full-time faculty member at the School of Law . Although he described it as a difficult decision , McGinniss yearned to be back in the classroom instructing and mentoring students .
Because of the effort and leadership of Dean McGinniss , the UND School of Law is now in a much better position : reliable funding , increased and credentialed faculty , improved bar passage rates , and enrollment at capacity . McGinniss set the law school in a great position to welcome the next dean .
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