North Dakota Supreme Court Justices, from left, Douglas Bahr, Daniel Crothers, Jon Jensen, Lisa Fair McEvers and Jerod Tufte hear arguments Dec. 18, 2023, in a case involving Summit Carbon Solutions and landowners. (Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A committee has forwarded six candidates to Gov. Kelly Armstrong to be the next justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court.
The court seeks a replacement for Justice Daniel Crothers, who announced late last year his plans to retire in February after 20 years on the bench.
The six contenders are:
- Philip Axt, a Bismarck resident and solicitor general for the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office
- Mark Friese, a Fargo defense attorney
- Michael Hurly, a judge for Northeast Judicial District in Rugby
- Ryan Norrell, a Bismarck attorney who served as counsel to former Gov. Doug Burgum
- Jacob Rodenbiker, an assistant U.S. attorney who lives in Fargo
- Kirsten Sjue, a judge for the Northwest Judicial District in Williston
Armstrong, a Republican, can appoint someone from the pool of six, ask the committee for more nominees or refer the matter to the election ballot for a public vote.
The committee could have forwarded up to seven names. A total of 12 candidates applied.
The voting members of the nominating committee are Justice Jerod Tufte, Eric Lahlum, Taylor Olson, Laura Mihalick, Paul Forster and Garth Rydland.
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