United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
About This Court
Established as a single district covering the entire state of North Dakota, this court sits within the Eighth Circuit and handles all federal district court matters arising within state boundaries. North Dakota spans approximately 70,000 square miles, and the court maintains multiple division locations to serve litigants across a geographically large and sparsely populated state.
The district has seen significant caseload activity tied to the state's energy sector, particularly oil and gas litigation connected to the Bakken formation in the western part of the state. Federal criminal matters, Native American law cases arising from the state's several tribal nations, and agricultural disputes also figure prominently in the court's docket.
With four active Article III judges serving the entire state, the District of North Dakota is a relatively small federal district by judge count. Senior judges and visiting judges from within the Eighth Circuit may also assist with caseload demands.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of North Dakota.
Divisions
Southwestern Division (Bismarck), Southeastern Division (Fargo), Northeastern Division (Grand Forks), Northwestern Division (Minot)
Caseload
The court handles a notable volume of cases related to energy development, tribal sovereignty and Native American rights, and federal criminal matters. Agricultural and natural resources litigation also represent recurring areas of the court's docket.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and must be members in good standing of the North Dakota State Bar or otherwise eligible for admission under the court's local rules. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys not licensed in North Dakota.
Clerk's Office
655 First Avenue North, Suite 130, Fargo, ND 58102
(701) 297-7000
Active Judges 4
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Conmy | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | Georgetown College (now Georgetown University) Law Center |
| Daniel Hovland | George W. Bush | 2002 | University of North Dakota School of Law |
| Daniel Traynor | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | University of North Dakota School of Law |
| Peter Welte | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | University of North Dakota School of Law |
Local Rules
41 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.