UPCOMING EVENTS
THE
CONTENTS
FEATURES
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong ....................................................................... 6 Lawyers in the Legislature ................................................................................................ 9 Collaborative Divorce ..................................................................................................... 12 ALPS : How to Have a Long and Successful Career as an Attorney .............................. 14 One Morning in Wilton - Part II .................................................................................. 16
DEPARTMENTS
Winter 2025 VOLUME 72 , NUMBER 1
SBAND President ............................................................................................................ 4 SBAND Executive Director ............................................................................................. 5
North Dakota Supreme Court Highlights by Scott O . Diamond , Ian McLean , and Joshua A . Swanson ............................................... 18
It is Not About the Dean by Brian Pappas ...................................................................... 22 Mistakes Happen : Admit It and Keep Your Composure by Zack Pelham ....................... 23
Supreme Court Approves Rule Amendments Effective March 1 by Andy Forward ............................................................................................................. 24
The Legal Writing Corner by Jennifer Cook and Denitsa Mavrova Heinrich ................... 26 Young Lawyer Showcase ................................................................................................ 28 LSND : Building Momentum ......................................................................................... 30 Get to Know Your Board Member ................................................................................. 31 Bar Foundation Update .................................................................................................. 32 Ethics Opinion ............................................................................................................... 34 Discipline ....................................................................................................................... 38
GAVEL
THE
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 19 • Webinar Lawyer Like an Athlete
February 26 • Free Ethics Webinar The Science of Justifying Emotional Distress Compensation
March 5 • Free Ethics Webinar Cybersecurity & Ethical Pitfalls of Everyday Law Office Computing
March 26 • Free Webinar Basics of Working With LGBTQ + Clients
April 24 • Webinar 2025 Bankruptcy Law Update Virtual Seminar
May 14 • Free Webinar Happiness 2.0 : Finding It and Maintaining It
May 14-15 • Bismarck 2025 Indigent Defense Seminar
June 11-13 • Bismarck SBAND Annual Meeting
State Bar Association of North Dakota
The Gavel is published by the State Bar Association of North Dakota
State Bar Association of North Dakota Officers
Board of Governors
Hon . Ted Sandberg , Grand Forks President Deb Hoffarth , Minot President-Elect Taylor Olson , Williston Immediate Past-President Rob Manly , Fargo Secretary-Treasurer Zack Pelham , Bismarck ABA Delegate Katie Schmidt , West Fargo EC Judicial District Paul Meyerchin , 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 .
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 .
On the Cover : Photo by the State of North Dakota
WINTER 2025 3