Case Filings/ Dispositions | 2003 (F) (D) | 2004 (F) (D) | Civil Small Claims Admin Traffic Criminal Juvenile | 4,339 905 10,724 4,603 310 | 6,249 917 10,510 5,771 655 | 4,442 825 11,054 4,730 273 | 6,434 826 11,385 8,282 603 |
District Court
The most significant change for the Northwest Judicial District, effective August 1, 2004, was the designation of this area as "Unit 4", comprised of the counties of Ward, Williams, Mountrail, Burke, Divide, and McKenzie. With this change came the creation of the new position, including more managerial responsibilities and duties, of the Court Administrator (see Administrative Rule 6.1, Section 3). We were pleased to welcome on board Ms. Dixie K. Knoebel, who joined us in October 2004. Ms. Knoebel brings with her a wealth of experience, having worked in the court management field for the past 25 years; her education includes a Master of Science degree in Judicial Administration from American University.
With the state's administrative reorganization came new responsibilities and issues to address within Unit 4. For example, the method for service of process in Unit 4 was examined, to both streamline and reduce the cost of that service. Effective in late 2004, following initial service by summons and complaint, subsequent service of process is now by first class mail.
Effective October 2004, only two law firms serving Ward, Mountrail, and Burke Counties (with two primary attorneys) remained on the adult criminal indigent defense contract, assuming 80% of all indigent defense assignments. Williams, McKenzie, and Divide Counties continued to operate without an indigent defense contract.
Courthouse facility concerns were at the forefront. In October 2004, flooding of the Williams County Courthouse, due to an inmate's actions, resulted in the juvenile court physical transfer to another location. Steps are being taken to bring the juvenile court back into the courthouse following extensive remodeling and renovation.
In Ward County, coordination with the Ward County Commission resulted in a facilities grant application to relocate the Office of Court Administration from the 3rd to 2nd floor, allowing for individual offices and the inclusion of the calendar control clerk. The vacated 3rd floor space will allow for reconstruction to accommodate a 4th judge's chamber, secretarial space, and conference area/meeting room for attorneys and their clients, victims, and witnesses.
The Ward County Commission remodeled the courthouse basement area and purchased a movable shelving system for the clerk of court's use. That area will house all files of older, disposed cases, and with another storage area nearby, all clerk of court records will be accessible in just two areas on the same floor.
Court administration began developing workplans in the areas of records retention, jury management, and indigent defense. Caseflow management will be addressed in the new year.
At the end of 2004, The Northwest judicial district said goodbye to long-time Judge Gary A. Holum and welcomed on board Gary H. Lee as his successor.
Case clearance rates for 2004 approached 98%.
Case filings in the following categories showed an increase from 2003 to 2004: civil, 2%; criminal,3%; and traffic,4%.
Notable increases include mental health cases in Ward County (up 33% from 2003 to 2004) and criminal cases in Williams County (up 14% from 2003 to 2004).
Jury trials increased in 2004 to 56, up 10% from 2003, when there were 51 jury trials.
The Williams County Juvenile Court collected $6,281.29 in restitution in 2004, and $9,805.09 was collected in the Ward County Juvenile Court.