News

The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents met September 25 and elected new officers.  Commissioner Mark Friese was appointed by his colleagues to be chair of the commission and Rep. Steve Vetter was appointed as Vice-Chair.  Additionally, the Commission reviewed all comments received in regards to proposed changes to Appellate performance standard 6.4.  After reviewing the comments, the Commission made slight changes and formally adopted the policy.  The new standard has been uploaded to the website.

The Commission on Legal Counsel met June 19, 2025 in the administrative office in Jamestown.

Commission on Legal Counsel Director Travis Finck was awarded the Gerald W. VandeWalle Medal at the Awards banquet of the North Dakota State Bar Association.  The Award is presented to an individual, who need not be a lawyer, who bring credit to the State of North Dakota, its judicial system, and to the administration of justice in our state and our country.

The Commission joined with the federal public defenders for the District of North and South Dakota and the NDACDL to hold a continuing legal education.  The education was approved for 11 hours of CLE credit.  10 general plus the one hour of ethics.

Commission held quarterly meeting December 4, 2024 in the Bismarck Public Defender Office.

The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents met on September 24, 2024 in the Commission administrative office in Jamestown, ND.

Commission to hold quarterly meeting September 24, 2024 in the Jamestown Administrative Office

The North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents has updated the policy on payment of extraordinary attorney fees as it relates to maximum payment prior to extraordinary authorization on a hourly case assignment for a post conviction matter.

The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents held a quarterly meeting on June 11, 2024.  The meeting was held in Fargo prior to the State Bar Association Annual Meeting.

The Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents has set the next quarterly meeting for March 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. to be held in the Jamestown Administrative Office.  The agenda will be posted when it has been completed.