New SBAND President Judge Ted Sandberg :
Building a healthy , vibrant legal community
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND FAMILY ? I was born and raised in suburban Detroit , Mich . I joined the Navy after high school and volunteered for submarine service . Upon completion of my service , I attended Wayne State University , earning my bachelor ’ s degree in 1993 . I enrolled at the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law , graduating in spring 1997 . While at UND , I was an associate editor for the “ Law Review ,” vicepresident of the student bar , and active on the law school hockey team .
After law school , I served as law clerk for Circuit Judge James Batzer in Michigan , and as law clerk for U . S . Magistrate Judge Harry Branson in Anchorage , Alaska . From 2001 to 2006 , I was a prosecuting attorney in Detroit , Mich . I entered private practice in Detroit in 2006 ; my family and I moved back to Grand Forks in 2009 . I remained in private practice in Grand Forks until February 2024 , when I was appointed District Court Judge by Gov . Doug Burgum .
I am married to Elizabeth Sandberg , herself a graduate of UND Nursing ( BS , 1998 ; MS Nurse Practitioner , 2014 ), who now practices as a family nurse practitioner in Northwood , N . D . We have two children , Maddy ( age 20 ) who is entering her third year at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver , B . C .; and Jack ( age 16 ) who is entering his junior year at Grand Forks Red River High School .
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN LAW ? A legal career never entered my thought process until I was in my junior year at university . I was at a wedding and a family friend mentioned I should explore the law . I was always a fairly good writer , had decent reading comprehension , and enjoyed speaking in public , all skills which – I was assured – were important building blocks for a legal career .
WHAT TYPE OF LAW DID YOU PRACTICE PRIOR TO BECOMING A JUDGE ? Most of my career has been spent practicing criminal litigation , both prosecuting and defending . As my private practice career progressed , I was more and more involved in general civil litigation . By the time I left private practice for the bench , I estimate my practice was 60 % criminal defense and 40 % civil litigation .
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE A JUDGESHIP ? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS A JUDGE ? I have spent the entirety of my legal career , all 27 years ( minus the judicial clerkships ), working in the courtroom . My favorite days as an attorney are the days spent in court . I thoroughly enjoy the role of the court in problem-solving and issue-resolving . As a judge , I am confident I will be able to apply all of the knowledge and lessons learned from 27 years litigating cases . Hopefully , I can be a beneficial actor for the citizens and lawyers in my little corner of the state .
WHAT HAS DRAWN YOU TO YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN SBAND ? HOW HAVE YOU STAYED ACTIVE IN SBAND ? I enjoy working with other lawyers in the administration of the legal practice as we all progress through our law careers . Since 2009 , I have served as president of the North Dakota Association
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