Summer 2025 Gavel | Page 13

LEGISLATIVE SERVICE AWARD

The Legislative Service Award goes to an individual who has devoted years of service at the state or federal level. The recipient demonstrates a commitment to serving their constituents by actively participating in the legislative process and by balancing the principles of justice and jurisprudence while serving the needs of the public.

The 2025 Legislative Service Award winner is Representative Karla Rose Hanson.

Hanson has served in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2016. She represents District 44, which covers north Fargo and downtown Fargo. During her first three sessions, she served on the House Judiciary Committee, where she discovered a love for the rule of law and gained a deep respect for those doing this critical work. Hanson ' s work on the Judiciary Committee inspired her to champion several criminal justice reform efforts over the years, including pretrial services and the recent trio of re-entry bills. For the last two sessions, she has served on the House Appropriations Committee, where she was one of the primary authors of the judiciary branch budget. As part of that work, she successfully advocated for long-overdue salary increases, improvements to the guardian ad litem program, and new problem-solving courts.

LIBERTY BELL AWARD

The Liberty Bell Award recognizes individuals or organizations who promote understanding of our form of government, encourage greater respect for law and the courts, and stimulate a deeper sense of responsibility on the part of citizens regarding their duties as well as their rights. The 2025 Liberty Bell Award Recipient is Christopher C. Myers.

Christopher C. Myers, left, accepts the Liberty Bell Award from Tony Weiler, right, and Judge Ted Sandberg, center.

Myers has been a state and federal prosecutor for 28 years. In his legal career, he has served in various leadership roles including as U. S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota( 2015-2019), First Assistant U. S. Attorney, and as the Chief Assistant Clay County Attorney. Before becoming a prosecutor as an Assistant Cass County State ' s Attorney, Myers was a special agent for the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation working as a narcotics agent. Myers has a juris doctor and masters of public administration from Drake University.

Legislative Service Award recipient Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, left, receives her award from Tony Weiler, right, and Judge Ted Sandberg, center.

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