“Call Me Jerry”: A Life of Character and Service on North Dakota’s Supreme Court

New biography chronicles Gerald W. VandeWalle’s extraordinary 65-year career, from dairy farm roots to the state’s longest-serving Chief Justice.

What makes an exemplary public servant? A new biography of alumnus Gerald W. VandeWalle—North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court Chief Justice—offers powerful insights into character, humility and public service. Call Me Jerry, commissioned by the Trustees of the John & Elaine Andrist Charitable Trust, traces VandeWalle’s life and career through interviews, personal stories and landmark legal achievements that shaped the state’s judicial system.

VandeWalle’s public service began in 1958 as the “baby attorney” in the North Dakota Attorney General’s office and concluded in 2023, marking an unparalleled 65 years in state government. During his 45 years on the Supreme Court—more than half as Chief Justice—the court undertook a major restructuring of the judicial system, advanced more equitable school funding, established family law mediation, and issued influential rulings on issues ranging from same-sex custody to the taxation of out-of-state companies.

Authored by veteran journalist Cecile Wehrman, the book also delves into the personal foundations of VandeWalle’s legacy. Raised on a dairy farm in Noonan, North Dakota, he was shaped by a family devoted to service and learning, discovered his calling in law at the University of North Dakota, and navigated a challenging transition to the Supreme Court in 1978. Throughout his career, his warmth, humor, relationship-building skills—and trademark request, “Call me Jerry”—made him approachable despite national recognition and honors, including North Dakota’s Rough Rider Award.

Call Me Jerry reminds readers that behind decades of legal influence stood a man grounded in faith, family and community, never far removed from his small-town roots.

The public is invited to attend a celebration of the release of the biography on February 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. The event will feature remarks from those involved in the project and offer attendees the opportunity to reflect on Chief Justice VandeWalle’s lasting impact on North Dakota law and history.