UPCOMING EVENTS
THE
CONTENTS
FEATURES
GAVEL
THE
New SBAND President Debra Hoffarth......................................................................... 6 2025 Annual Meeting and Awards.................................................................................. 8 ALPS: Facing a Malpractice Claim................................................................................ 16 UND Law: A Leading Law School for Federal Clerkships........................................... 18 25 Years of Problem-Solving Courts in North Dakota................................................... 20 North Dakota Girls and Boys State Programs Teach Civic Duty.................................. 22
DEPARTMENTS
Summer 2025 VOLUME 72, NUMBER 3
SBAND President............................................................................................................ 4 SBAND Executive Director............................................................................................ 5
North Dakota Supreme Court Highlights by Scott O. Diamond, Ian McLean, and Joshua A. Swanson............................................... 24
Selecting a New Dean with Forward Momentum by Bradley Myers............................... 26 Supreme Court Approves Numerous Rule Amendments by Andy Forward................... 28 Our National Pastime Applied to the Law by Zack Pelham............................................ 29 The Legal Writing Corner by Jennifer Cook and Denitsa Mavrova Heinrich................... 30 Young Lawyer Showcase................................................................................................ 32 LSND: Advancing Justice Through Education and Gratitude....................................... 34 Bar Foundation Update.................................................................................................. 36 Discipline....................................................................................................................... 38
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug. 27 Free Ethics Webinar Boundaries and Balance, Avoiding Lawyer Burnout
Sept. 10 • Free Webinar Reimaging Law Firm Efficiency with AI
Sept. 24 Free SBAND & LSND Webinar Redefining Neurodiversity in the Legal Industry
Oct. 8 Free SBAND Webinar 2025 SBAND Membership Benefits
Oct. 22 Free Ethics Webinar Disciplinary Counsel’ s Tips for Discipline-Free Practice
Dec. 4 • Bismarck 2025 Business & Corporations Section Seminar
Dec. 4-5 • Bismarck 2025 Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section Seminar
State Bar Association of North Dakota
State Bar Association of North Dakota Officers
Board of Governors
Debra Hoffarth, Minot President Rob Manly, Fargo President-Elect Hon. Ted Sandberg, Grand Forks Immediate Past-President Paul Myerchin, Bismarck Secretary-Treasurer Zack Pelham, Bismarck ABA Delegate Robin Johansen, Fargo EC Judicial District Ben Sand, Bismarck SC Judicial District Diane Schull, Grand Forks NEC Judicial District
Ashley Ensrud, Minot NC Judicial District Hernando Perez, Williston NW Judicial District Amanda Engelstad, Dickinson SW Judicial District Ashley Lies, New Rockford SE Judicial District Ashley Samuelson, Devils Lake NE Judicial District Brian Pappas, Grand Forks Dean, UND Law School Erica Hovey, Fargo Young Lawyers Section Tony J. Weiler, Bismarck Executive Director
SBAND EDITORIAL BOARD
Sheldon Smith, Bismarck Chair
Joshua Swanson, Fargo Scott Diamond, Fargo Hope Hogan, Bismarck
Denitsa Mavrova Heinrich, Grand Forks
Jennifer Cook, Grand Forks Elizabeth Kriz, Bismarck Kat McNamara, West Fargo Jessica Klein, Minot Elizabeth Alvine, Fargo Katie Winbauer, Bismarck
It is the policy of The Gavel to provide the magazine at no cost to current and former members of SBAND. To request a subscription, contact the SBAND office at 800-472-2685 or info @ sband. org.
The Gavel is published by the State Bar Association of North Dakota
1661 Capitol Way, Suite 104LL Bismarck, ND 58501 info @ sband. org
Statements of opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the State Bar Association of North Dakota, its officers, Board of Governors or staff. No endorsement of any product or service offered by any advertisement is intended or implied by publication in The Gavel. Contributions to The Gavel are welcome, but the right is reserved to select material to be published. All members of the Association receive The Gavel as part of their annual fees. Annual subscription price to nonmembers is $ 25. Third class postage paid at Bismarck, North Dakota 58502.
SUMMER 2025 3