judgeship, even before attending law school.“ My time working in the court exposed me to the budgeting process, docket currency, court scheduling, and other administrative duties,” she notes.“ I attended administrative meetings at the Supreme Court with the presiding judge, where I learned about how the judicial system functions.”
Fair McEvers says her time as the commissioner of labor was also invaluable.“ As a member of Gov. Hoeven’ s cabinet, I got an inside look at the workings of the executive branch.”
Photo by Poppy Mills / State of North Dakota
Her time serving as a district court judge further expanded her skills, Fair McEvers notes, and also exposed her to the challenges faced in that judicial position.
The North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice is elected to a five-year term by the other Supreme Court justices and the state’ s district court judges.
Photo provided by Julia Ernst
BECOMING CHIEF JUSTICE
After serving more than a decade on the Supreme Court, Fair McEvers decided to run for the position of chief justice following Chief Justice Jon J. Jensen’ s announcement in November he would not seek re-election.“ I was encouraged by some judges on the district court and believed I had the skills to do the job,” says Fair McEvers.“ After 12 years on the Supreme Court, I was ready for a new challenge.”
She was elected by a vote of the state’ s other Supreme Court justices and district court judges. The ballots were tallied in December, and Fair McEvers began her duties as Chief Justice on Jan. 1. The Passing of the Gavel ceremony was held on Jan. 6 to commemorate her stepping into the role.
Fair McEvers also stepped into the significant position as the first woman to serve as chief justice in the state.“ North Dakota was only one of a handful of states that had not had a female chief justice,” she notes.“ I am proud to take us off the list, but I also know that I did not do it alone. I would not be here without the women and men who went before me to create a path and the men and women who have supported me and mentored me along the way.”
STEPPING INTO THE ROLE
The duties of the Chief Justice include presiding over Supreme Court oral arguments and conferences, representing the judiciary at official state functions, and serving as the administrative head of the judicial system, notes Fair McEvers.
She says, in the role, she wants to keep the judicial system moving forward and improving.“ Chief Justice Jensen and Chief Justice VandeWalle both moved the court forward in many ways. I intend to continue with a number of Chief Justice Jensen’ s initiatives, including trying to bring more clerks of court into the state system and trying to attract more attorneys to rural areas. Change is hard, but we need to continue to build upon the strong foundation that has been laid,” says Fair McEvers.
SBAND Women Lawyers Section( WLS) members with Chief Justice Fair McEvers following the Passing of the Gavel ceremony. Left to right, Ana Neir, WLS immediate past president; Mikalya Reis, WLS executive committee member; Victoria( Tori) Vold, WLS president; Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers; Haley Finch, WLS member; Dixie Holland, WLS member; Julia Ernst, WLS executive committee member
Continuing current workgroups to improve the court’ s website and investigating ways to ethically use artificial intelligence will also be
WINTER 2026 7