Ralph J. Erickstad
| Ralph J. Erickstad | |
|---|---|
| 41st [[Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court]] | |
|
In office 1973 – December 31, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Alvin C. Strutz |
| Succeeded by | Gerald W. VandeWalle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 15, 1922 |
| Died | July 12, 2001 (aged 78) |
Ralph J. Erickstad (August 15, 1922 – July 12, 2001) was the Chief Justice on the North Dakota Supreme Court from 1973–1992. He retired December 31, 1992 after serving 30 years on the Supreme Court.[1]
Biography
Erickstad was born near the farming community of Starkweather, North Dakota. He was the descendant of Norwegian immigrant homesteaders. He served in the United States Air Force (Eighth Air Force) during World War II as a gunner and radio operator aboard a Consolidated B-24 Liberator. After WWII he was honorably discharged from service. He attended the University of North Dakota and went on to achieve a law degree (J.D.) from the University of Minnesota Law School. In 1949, he began practicing law in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Between 1949 and 1962 he progressed from police magistrate to states attorney, to state senator. In 1962 he was elected to serve on the North Dakota State Supreme Court. Starting in 1973, he was repeatedly elected to the position of Supreme Justice for five years at a time until his retirement in 1992. In 2000, the North Dakota Supreme Courtroom was dedicated in his horor.[2][3]
Awards and Honors
- North Dakota National Leadership Award of Excellence (1987)
- Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar Association (1988)
- National Center for State Courts' Distinguished Service Award (1987)
- AJS Herbert Harley Award from the American Judicature Society (1992)
Personal life
He married Lois K. Jacobson on July 30, 1949 in Minneapolis, MN. They were the parents of two sons. Erickstad died in Bismarck, North Dakota during 2001. He was buried in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota.[4]
References
- ↑ "Remembering Ralph J. Erickstad". North Dakota Supreme Court News. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Ralph J. Erickstad papers, 1950-1993". tate Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Modernizing in the Twentieth Century". North Dakota Supreme Court. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Ralph J. Erickstad". The Bismarck Tribune. July 12, 2001. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
External links
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alvin C. Strutz |
Chief Justices of North Dakota 1973–1992 |
Succeeded by Gerald W. VandeWalle |