The Honorable Ralph Erickson Visits UND School of Law as Jurist-in-Residence
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit hold special session as part of the visit
The University of North Dakota School of Law welcomed Judge Ralph Erickson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit as its 2024 Rodney S. Webb Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence. The highly anticipated visit marked the return of the jurist-in-residence program after an eleven-year hiatus.
During the two-day visit, Judge Erickson visited the Intellectual Property and Federal Indian Law classes, engaged with members of the North Dakota Law Review and the Student Trial Lawyers Association, attended a breakfast with students, and participated in a federal clerkship panel with Judge Shon Hastings, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of North Dakota, Judge Alice Senechal, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of North Dakota, and Judge Daniel Traynor, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of North Dakota.
“For many years, Judge Erickson has done so much to provide invaluable opportunities for our students through clerkships, externships, teaching, and mentoring,” said Nikola Datzov, Assistant Professor of Law, who coordinated the visit and moderated the federal clerkship panel. “He is exceptionally deserving of this recognition—his continued efforts to make our students better will carry well into their careers and leave a lasting impact.”
For many years, Judge Erickson has done so much to provide invaluable opportunities for our students through clerkships, externships, teaching, and mentoring,
The highlight of the visit was a special session held by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in the School of Law’s newly remodeled VandeWalle Courtroom with Judges Erickson, L. Steven Grasz, and Jonathan A. Kobes presiding. The special session heard three oral arguments and were open to law students and the public.
A celebratory luncheon was held in Judge Erickson’s honor at the UND Memorial Union with close family, friends colleagues, and dignitaries in attendance. Remarks were given by Brian Pappas, Dean of the School of Law, Eric Link, UND Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, Nikola Datov, UND Assistant Professor of Law, and The Honorable Wade L. Webb, District Judge for the East Central Judicial District, and the 2013 Rodney S. Webb Distinguished Jurist-in-residence. Dean Pappas presented Judge Erickson with an engraved crystal gavel following Erickson’s remarks.
Judge Erickson capped off his visit to UND Law with a reception at the school of law co-hosted by the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the Federal Practice Committee.
“Our entire legal community is lucky to have someone so dedicated to championing and fostering learning opportunities for junior lawyers, as well as modeling excellence in practice and the profession,” concluded Datzov.
Our entire legal community is lucky to have someone so dedicated to championing and fostering learning opportunities for junior lawyers
About Judge Erickson
Judge Erickson was born in Thief River Falls, MN. He moved with his family to North Dakota before starting elementary school. Erickson is a 1977 graduate of Rugby (ND) High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1980 from Jamestown College (now the University of Jamestown) and his J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1984.
Following law school, Erickson was in private practice in West Fargo, ND, practicing primarily in the areas of personal injury litigation, family law, criminal law, and worker’s compensation. During this time, Erickson also served as an Assistant City Attorney for West Fargo, ND where he prosecuted in both Municipal and County Court.
In 1993, Erickson was appointed a Cass County Magistrate, presiding over cases involving mental health, misdemeanors, infractions, and small claims. In 1994, he was appointed County Judge serving a multi-county district including Traill, Steele, Nelson, Griggs, and Cass Counties in Eastern ND, with his chambers in Hillsboro, ND. In 1994, Erickson was selected to the East Central Judicial District bench where he sat primarily in Fargo, ND. He served in that capacity until his appointment to the federal bench in 2003.
Erickson was nominated by former President George W. Bush to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of North Dakota on September 12, 2002. His nomination died with the expiration of the 107th Congress. He was re-nominated by President George W. Bush on January 7, 2003, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 12, 2003, and assumed office on March 14, 2003. Erickson served primarily in the Eastern Divisions of North Dakota. He served as District Judge until October 12, 2017.
Erickson has long been active in issues related to Native Americans in the federal courts as well as ethics and judicial conduct. He formerly served as the chair of the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Committee on Codes of Conduct. He is the chair of the Tribal Issues Advisory Group to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Erickson is a member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the Cass County (ND) Bar Association.
About the Jurist-in-Residence Program
The Rodney S. Webb Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence program brings prominent judges from across the state and the country to UND School of Law to engage with our law school community and share their expertise.
Jurists visit for either a single day or a multi-day engagement that includes class visits, informal receptions, a presentation by the judge on a topic of their choice, and a dinner honoring the Distinguished Jurist. The Jurist-in-Residence program provides a unique and varied opportunity to learn about the bench and greatly adds to the law school experience of our students, faculty, and staff.
The Rodney S. Webb Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence Program was established in 2007. The inaugural jurist in 2007 was the late Rodney S. Webb, United States District Judge for the District of North Dakota. Through the encouragement and financial contributions of UND School of Law alumni and Judge Rodney S. Webb’s former clerks, the program has been permanently named in his honor.
