When a spot on the North Dakota Supreme Court opened in 1978 , VandeWalle had no intention of applying . “ At the time , I was first assistant attorney general , and I really enjoyed my job .”
However , a challenge from a fellow competitor at a bridge tournament in Fargo spurred VandeWalle to apply for the position and he was appointed in August 1978 . “ I really don ’ t know if I would have done it without that push ,” VandeWalle noted .
He was elected to continue serving the unexpired term in November 1978 and elected to a full 10-year term in 1984 . He was then re-elected in 1994 , 2004 , and 2014 . He was elected Chief Justice in January 1993 and was re-elected to the position every five years through 2015 , stepping down from that role in December 2019 as the longest-serving Chief Justice in North Dakota history and the longest-serving of all sitting chief justices in the nation .
“ I always liked the idea of taking an issue and researching it and resolving it ,” VandeWalle said of serving on the bench . “ I like the idea of working with other people and learning from them . I always said , ‘ I don ’ t know everything .’”
AN IMPACTFUL CAREER
Federal Judge Dan Traynor clerked for VandeWalle from 1997 to 1998 and said the justice had a profound impact on his career as a lawyer and judge . “ He was my first boss out of law school . His humble and gentle demeanor was a great example for a new lawyer to observe and try to emulate ,” Traynor noted . “ I observed Chief Justice VandeWalle ’ s tangible interest in the profession and the bar . It was an example to me of how lawyers and judges should interact with each other and one another .”
“ In the state of North Dakota , he is widely admired by public servants and citizens alike ,” Traynor continued , noting VandeWalle ’ s work with Chief Justice Ralph Erickstad toward the unification of the state ’ s court system as a significant accomplishment during VandeWalle ’ s career . “ He also navigated the third branch of government through budgetary and caseload challenges , including various oil booms and busts and the Dakota Access Pipeline Protest .”
VandeWalle noted one of the most significant changes during his career was the court system ’ s shift from paper to digital technology . “ Frankly , I was opposed to it , but now I am glad they did it . By far and away the biggest change in my career ,” he said . “ I ’ m old school . The kids coming up don ’ t know the system without digital .”
In 2015 , Governor Jack Dalyrymple recognized VandeWalle and his contributions to the state with the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award , the state ’ s highest honor .
Traynor also noted VandeWalle ’ s many years of service to the American Bar
VandeWalle and nieces , Mary Kuntz , left , and Nancy Szymialis , right , pictured with his Rough Rider Award .
Association ( ABA ), including serving as president of the Conference of Chief Judges and the Chiefs ’ representative in the ABA ’ s House of Delegates . In addition , VandeWalle was a long-time member of the council of the ABA Section for Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and was awarded the Kutak Award from the ABA for his significant contributions to the collaboration of the legal academy , the bench , and the bar . He was also appointed to the Federal-State Jurisdiction Committee of the Judicial Conference by the Chief Justice of the United States William Rehnquist .
“ My involvement was probably accidental as much as it was intentional ,” said VandeWalle of his service to the ABA and the profession . “ Chief Justice Ralph Erickstad couldn ’ t serve on a council , so he pushed me into it and serving on the Section for Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar . I soon discovered there was a world outside of North Dakota , and that North Dakota was also ahead on many issues and I could promote what we did .”
Judge Dan Traynor , left , with VandeWalle at an ABA meeting . Traynor clerked for VandeWalle from 1997 to 1998 .
6 THE GAVEL
VandeWalle was also recognized by UND for his support of his alumnus and law school with the Sioux Award in 1992 , Building of the Law Profession in 2000 , UND Accounting Hall of Fame in 2012 , Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2015 , and UND Presidential Medal of Honor and UND Spirit Award in 2020 . The courtroom at the UND School of Law was also named in his honor in 2021 .