The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2015 Gavel Magazine | Page 14

STATE LAWYERS BRINGING
THEIR LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO
64TH LEGISLATURE
Ten North Dakota lawyers, plus a second-year law student, are
serving as legislators in the 64th session of the North Dakota
Legislative Assembly. This is four more lawyers than the total in
the 2013 assembly.

Joining them throughout the session is Lieutenant Governor
Drew Wrigley, also a lawyer, who serves as the President of the
Senate. Wrigley was appointed lieutenant governor in December
2010, and was elected to a four-year term in 2012. This is the
third session where, as lieutenant governor, he has presided over
the Senate.
Four incumbent lawyers have been joined by one new lawyer in
the Senate. The House has two incumbent lawyers, three new
lawyer, and Representative Kylie Oversen, who as a second-year
law student, is serving in her second session.

The legislative assembly began January 6 and will be held for no
more than 80 days, usually adjourning in late April.
Senator Connie Triplett
Senator Connie Triplett has represented District 18 in Grand
Forks since 2003. A Democrat, she has served on the Energy
and Natural Resources and Finance and Taxation committees for
several sessions.
She practices law in Grand Forks.

Senator Kelly Armstrong
Senator Kelly Armstrong has been serving from District 36 since
2012. He is on the Judiciary and Energy and Natural Resources
committees
In this session, Armstrong, a Republican, is the prime sponsor
of an $845 million dollar surge funding bill to provide critical
infrastructure funding for western North Dakota communities in
order to help them deal with the rapid growth and impact from
oil and gas development. He is also interested in laws that pertain
to Fourth Amendment issues.
Armstrong is a partner in the Reichert Armstrong law firm in
Dickinson. He believes being a in the legislature is an interesting
experience. “In practice I have dealt almost exclusively in criminal
law, family law and oil and gas law. There are many bills dealing
with these three topics, and it is always a pleasure to be able give
practical examples as to how a particular law change will impact
the people of North Dakota,” he says.
Senator Mac Schneider
Senator Mac Schneider has represented District 42 in Grand
Forks since 2009. Because of his responsibilities as the Senate
Minority Leader, Schneider does not serve on any committees.

14

THE GAVEL

The legislation that interests him the most this session includes
those cre ][