Douglas Bahr
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2023 - Present
2026
2
Douglas Bahr is a judge of the North Dakota Supreme Court. He assumed office on February 1, 2023. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Governor Doug Burgum (R) appointed Bahr to the North Dakota Supreme Court effective February 1, 2023. To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Douglas Bahr was born in Corvallis, Oregon. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. His career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]
Appointments
2023
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R) appointed Douglas Bahr to the North Dakota Supreme Court effective February 1, 2023. Bahr succeeded Gerald VandeWalle, who retired on January 31, 2023. Bahr was Gov. Burgum's second nominee to the five-member supreme court.[2]
At the time of the vacancy under North Dakota law, the governor appointed a replacement with help from a judicial nominating commission. Alternatively, the governor could call a special election to fill the vacancy. Appointed judges served for at least two years, after which they needed to run for election to finish the remainder of the unexpired term.[3]
State supreme court judicial selection in North Dakota
- See also: Judicial selection in North Dakota
The five justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court are chosen in nonpartisan elections. Judicial candidates compete in a primary election, and the top two candidates advance to the general election in November.[4] If a justice retires or dies in office, the governor may appoint a justice to the court for two years, when the appointed justice must then run in a nonpartisan election.[5]
Once elected, judges serve 10-year terms. At the expiration of a judge's term, he or she must run for re-election to remain on the court.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. and state citizen and
- a licensed attorney.[4]
Chief justice
The court's chief justice is chosen by a vote of the supreme and district court judges to serve a five-year term.[4]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement with help from a judicial nominating commission. Alternatively, the governor may call a special election to fill the vacancy. Appointed judges are to serve for at least two years, after which they must run in the general election to finish the remainder of the unexpired term.[6] If a justice retires or dies in office, the governor may appoint a justice to the court for two years, when the appointed justice must then run in a nonpartisan election.[7] The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
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Officeholder North Dakota Supreme Court |
Footnotes
- ↑ State of North Dakota Courts, "Douglas A. Bahr," accessed March 18, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Office of the Governor, "Burgum appoints Judge Douglas Bahr to succeed VandeWalle on North Dakota Supreme Court on Feb. 1," January 9, 2023
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Dakota," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Dakota," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ State of North Dakota, "Supreme Court," accessed September 8, 2022
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: North Dakota," accessed August 16, 2021
- ↑ State of North Dakota, "Supreme Court," accessed September 8, 2022
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of North Dakota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of North Dakota
State courts:
North Dakota Supreme Court • North Dakota Court of Appeals • North Dakota District Courts • North Dakota Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in North Dakota • North Dakota judicial elections • Judicial selection in North Dakota
