North Dakota chief justice cites heavy caseloads, urges guardianship office and court reforms

Chief Justice John J. Jensen told the North Dakota House of Representatives during a State of the Judiciary address that the state’s courts face unusually high criminal caseloads and outlined several proposed reforms aimed at improving accountability, access and speed of case processing.

Jensen said the judiciary is asking the Legislature to create a court-run office of guardianship and conservatorship, to rewrite municipal court statutes, to expand self-help services and problem-solving courts, and to simplify jury service procedures to make the system more accessible and efficient.

The chief justice provided context for the requests: North Dakota operates municipal courts, district courts and the North Dakota Supreme Court; there are currently 87 municipal courts and 55 district court judges elected to six-year terms. Jensen said municipal courts handle limited matters — including class B misdemeanors with maximum penalties of 30 days in jail and fines up to $1,500 — and that cities with populations over 5,000 must…