DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD GERALD W . VANDEWALLE MEDAL
Jane Dynes , center , accepts her Distinguished Service Award from Tony Weiler , right , and Taylor Olson , left .
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 . This year ’ s award was presented to Jane Dynes for her service in the law profession and state .
Dynes is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead , Minn ., and the University of North Dakota School of Law . She became a member of the North Dakota Bar in 1987 . Dynes served as law clerk to the Honorable Rodney S . Webb , United States District Court Judge for the District of North Dakota from 1987-1990 . She then joined the Serkland Law Firm in 1990 and retired in December 2023 . She served as board president from 2010-2023 .
Dynes represented insurance companies , employers , and local government entities in litigation and administrative proceedings . She argued numerous cases before the North Dakota Supreme Court and managed the Serkland Law Firm ’ s defense of multiple companies sued for claimed asbestos related injuries .
Dynes served on the Cass County Bar Association Grant Committee , the SBAND CLE Committee , and as chancellor of the Jackrabbit Bar Conference in 2010 . She was honored with the Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyer Award . Dynes served as the East Central Judicial District ’ s representative to the SBAND Board of Governors from 2005 to 2009 , and served as president of SBAND . She was appointed to the State Board of Law Examiners in 2012 and currently serves as that board ’ s president . She is also a member of the Lawyer Licensing Task Force .
Gerald W . VandeWalle Medal recipient Sally Holewa , center , pictured with Tony Weiler , right , and Taylor Olson , left .
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 need 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 . The award will be presented at the annual meeting of the association .
The 2024 recipient of the Gerald W . VandeWalle Medal is Sally A . Holewa . Since 2005 , Holewa has served as the North Dakota state court administrator . She previously held executive positions with the courts in Minnesota , Michigan , and North Dakota . She is a past president of the Conference of State Court Administrators and former vice-chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors . She has served as a short-term court administration consultant with the International Division of the National Center for State Courts for projects in Kosovo and Bangladesh . She holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of North Dakota and a bachelor of arts degree in political science from St . Cloud State University , and is a fellow with the Institute for Court Management . She is the 2021 recipient of the Warren E . Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration , and the 2017 recipient of the ICM Star Award for excellence in the advancement of court administration through leadership and education .
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