NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR KELLY ARMSTRONG : Law degree played important role in political success
By Kylie Blanchard , Clearwater Communications Photos provided by the State of North Dakota
North Dakota ’ s 34th governor , Kelly Armstrong , was sworn into office on Dec . 15 , 2024 , but he says the path to becoming governor of his home state started at the University of North Dakota ’ s ( UND ) School of Law . “ I wouldn ’ t be here if I didn ’ t go to school at UND Law ,” says Armstrong . “ There is no other circumstance where I would be in this position now .”
Home State of North Dakota
Armstrong was raised in Dickinson and received his bachelor ’ s degree from UND . “ I then went to William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg , Virginia , for one year , but quickly realized I did not want to be a lawyer in a big law firm on the east coast ,” he notes . He returned to his home state and the UND School of Law . “ It was the best decision I ever made . I met my wife at UND when she was on an exchange program from Norway for a semester ,” says Armstrong .
Upon graduation from UND Law School in 2003 , he moved to
Gov . Kelly Armstrong
Norway and married his wife , Kjersti , in 2004 . They returned to Grand Forks so Kjersti could complete her studies at UND Law . “ I always went to law school with the intent of doing title opinions for my dad ’ s oil and gas business , but when my wife was in law school , I joined Reichert Law firm in Grand Forks and worked for my great friend , Alex Reichert , in criminal law . It turns out I really liked it .”
When Kjersti graduated from law school , the couple returned to Dickinson and Armstrong continued to practice criminal law . In 2010 , after their second child was born , Armstrong began easing out of criminal law practice . “ I moved into oil and gas law , but it wasn ’ t as exciting ,” he notes . “ In 2012 , I got mad about a criminal defense issue at the state level and decided to run for the legislature . When I got out of criminal defense , I missed the juice and debate , and politics allowed me to still deal with a lot of issues at different times .”
Gov . Armstrong delivered the State of the State Address in January .
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