N.D. Supreme Court

North Dakota Courts Annual Report 2005

Administrative Unit 4

Report of the Northwest Judicial District
The Honorable William W. McLees, Presiding Judge
Dixie Knoebel, Trial Court Administrator


District Court Judges: WilliamW. McLees, Presiding Judge; Robert W. Holte; Gary H. Lee; Douglas L. Mattson; David W. Nelson; and Gerald Rustad.
Judicial Referee: Connie S. Portscheller
Number of Counties in District: 6
District Court Chambers: Minot, Stanley, and Williston.


Northwest 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
4,442
825
11,054
4,730
273
6,434
826
11,385
8,282
603
4,605
701
13,652
4,795
296
6,428
712
13,670
5,400
671


District Court

Courthouse remodeling in Ward County was completed, primarily through a Courthouse Facilities Grant. Space was created for a fourth judge’s chamber, secretary’s office, and second jury room/conference area. Court administration and scheduling offices moved to a floor below, which provides more privacy and space, as well as being in closer proximity to the clerk’s office.

Improvements and upgrades were also made within court- and hearing-rooms. Sound systems, coordinated with recording equipment, were greatly enhanced in the Ward County Courthouse (two courtrooms and three hearing rooms). Videoconferencing equipment was also installed in the Ward County District Court, allowing for remote hearings and various meetings to be held. In Williams County, reinstallation of the IVN/ITV system upon completion of remodeling of the Courthouse should result in greater use of that system. Williams County Courthouse was in the throes of its remodeling project for much of the year, as a result of flooding to that building the previous year.

In late December 2005 the North Dakota Supreme Court ordered that effective January 1, 2007, Judgeship No. 7 in Stanley (Mountrail County) be transferred to Minot (Ward County), upon Judge Robert Holte’s retirement, to enhance effective judicial administration. The Court is committed to the continued provision of judicial services in the four non-chambered counties (Burke, Divide, McKenzie, and Mountrail) through regularly scheduled court dates.
The Northwest District Court also began a series of “judicial ride-alongs” in 2005. Hosting first a breakfast and then a luncheon, the meetings between judges and local legislators provide an opportunity todiscuss issues of mutual interest and concern. More meetings in Minot and Williston will be held in the coming months.

Ongoing projects begun in 2005 include:

Williams County: Addressing space needs for the juvenile court and clerk of courts office as the County proceeds towards remodeling and renovation of the existing Courthouse.

Ward County: Given recent breaches of security both nationally and statewide, attention once again focused on courthouse security at the Ward County Courthouse. The Court is working closely with law enforcement and local decision-makers to institute front-door security, to include staffing a magnetometer and x-ray machine.

The Ward County District Court and other key partners made a commitment to create a Juvenile Drug Court in 2006. Application for federal funding was made; if unavailable, funding will be accessible through the State.

A Case Management Committee was also created in Ward County in 2005. Meeting on a regular basis to address issues and concerns surrounding caseflow management, the Committee is comprised of representatives from the District Court, law enforcement, state’s attorney, local bar, court administration, and probation and parole.

Overall, case clearance rates for 2005 approached 98%.

Overall case filings in the following categories showed an increase from 2004 to 2005: civil, 9%; felonies, 11%; traffic, 24%; juvenile, 8%; and probate, 11%.

Other notable increases from 2004 to 2005 included: Williams County: juvenile cases (up 19%) and misdemeanor cases (up 17%); and Ward County: felony cases, primarily Class C, up 35%.

Jury trials in 2005 numbered 47, down 16% from 2004.

The Williams County Juvenile Court collected $9,290.44 in restitution in 2005 (up 36% from 2004), and $10,276.71 was collected in restitution in the Ward County Juvenile Court for 2005 (up 5% from 2004).