N.D. Supreme Court

North Dakota Courts Annual Report 2005

Administrative Unit 3

Report of the South Central Judicial District
The Honorable Gail Hagerty, Presiding Judge
Donna Fair, Trial Court Administrator


District Court Judges: Gail Hagerty, Presiding Judge; Sonna Anderson; Bruce Haskell; Donald Jorgensen; Burt Riskedahl; Bruce Romanick; Thomas Schneider; and Robert O. Wefald.
Judicial Referees: Robert Freed and John Grinsteiner.
Number of Counties in District: 12
District Court Chambers: Bismarck, Mandan, Linton and Washburn.
South Central
Judicial District Caseload
for Calendar Years 2004 and 2005


Case Filings/
Dispositions
2004
(F)     (D)
2005
(F)     (D)

Civil
Small Claims
Admin Traffic
Criminal
Juvenile
5,478
1,137
18,571
5,339
324
7,601
1,194
19,012
7,445
564
5,759
899
17,143
5,165
358
7,583
926
17,060
7,098
625

District Court
 The South Central Judicial District is served by eight judges and 1.5 referees. Using a master calendar and individual calendar system, the judges each hear an equal share of the district’s civil and criminal caseload. All judges are assigned cases throughout the district’s twelve counties to promote fair and expeditious disposition of all cases in compliance with docket currency standards. The referees hear juvenile, small claims, and child support cases.
 Using technology to improve efficiency of the courts, Burleigh County will begin an electronic records program during 2006 by electronically scanning all documents into a file storage program that is linked to the case management system. Interactive video continues to be a standard format for timely hearings, reducing travel costs for private citizens, county employees and judges.
 The 2005 case filings were consistent with filings from 2004. A notable shift within the criminal caseload involves a greater percentage of felony filings. The civil caseload has increased with the largest shift in contract / collection cases filed.
 The district continues to offer drug courts as an alternative to traditional sentencing in both the adult and juvenile courts. The intensive supervision allows defendants to learn to live drug-free, productive and healthy lives. The adult drug court had 38 participants during 2005. Juvenile drug court had 19 participants during 2005.

Juvenile Court
 The juvenile court continues to follow the restorative justice philosophy of using diversion and sentencing sanctions to teach juvenile offenders how to make better choices and contributions to the community.
 A Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI) has been implemented and will be used by juvenile court officers in case management. The YASI is more than a "risk" assessment instrument. Typically, risk assessments consist of two components: Static (unchangeable characteristics like legal history) or Dynamic (changeable characteristics like substance abuse problems and attitudes). The YASI has a third component which includes "protective factors" or strengths which refer to characteristics and resources of the youth and their families. These are strengths because they focus on resilience and prevention elements in the family that need "building up". Ultimately, the YASI will provide better case management for court officers.

Report of the Southwest Judicial District
The Honorable Allan L. Schmalenberger, Presiding Judge
Donna Fair, Trial Court Administrator


District Court Judges: Allan L. Schmalenberger, Presiding Judge; Ronald L. Hilden; and Zane Anderson.
Number of Counties in District: 8
District Court Chambers: Dickinson

Southwest Judicial District Caseload
Judicial District Caseload
for Calendar Years 2004 and 2005


Case Filings/
Dispositions
2004
(F)     (D)
2005
(F)     (D)

Civil
Small Claims
Admin Traffic
Criminal
Juvenile
1,438
313
6,282
2,351
106
2,099
331
6,303
2,868
196
1,616
230
6,073
2,159
102
616
244
6,154
2,730
218



District Court

Case filings are shown in the chart on the right. The Southwest judicial district continues to use a master and individual calendar assignment plan. Starting January 1, 2006, the judges will be rotating weekly on the master calendar. Also, Unit 3 is working on a unit caseflow management plan.

All the district judges are assigned throughout the district to assure an equitable distribution of the caseload and to promote a fair, expeditious disposition of all cases in compliance with the docket currency standards. During 2005, the district was in compliance with the docket currency standards.

Juvenile Court

The Southwest district juvenile court continues to work in conjunction with the South Central district juvenile court in providing services for Unit 3. The Southwest district continues to serve its eight counties and the county of Mercer.

Alcohol and drug related offenses remain the most frequently received referrals. There is a need in this district for shelter care or crisis beds. Staff response and intervention in crisis situations in our district remains challenging due to the continuous shortage of beds. Our district is currently working with human service center staff to access funding to provide this emergency resource in the district.

The Southwest juvenile court staff have been involved as members of the statewide CMS Committee and the Best Practices Committee. Staff has also been actively involved in a multi-agency regional community task force called Project Ace. Community forums are presented bi-annually throughout the region on the topics of alcohol, drugs, suicide, violence, gambling and sexuality. Members of the group will respond to requests from schools, business and community groups who would like further information or presentations.