Northeast Central Judicial District officially welcomes Judge Kristi Venhuizen
Sep. 28—GRAND FORKS — The newly-appointed Judge Kristi Pettit Venhuizen was officially welcomed to the Northeast Central Judicial District in an investiture on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 26.
"The gravity of the moment has not escaped me," Venhuizen said.
When Venhuizen decided to pursue the judgeship position, she asked herself why she wanted to be a judge, and what she could bring to the table.
"I want to continue to serve my profession, and to give back to my community," she said.
Venhuizen has 25 years of legal experience. Throughout her career she's been a prosecutor, worked at the city clerk of court's office, taught at UND and operated a private practice.
During her time in private practice, Venhuizen represented a wide variety of clients in different areas of the court system, including separated families facing divorce and custody proceedings, people struggling with addiction and mental health issues, families processing the estate of a loved one who's died, people in abusive relationships and more.
"My background and experience are the perfect battleground to prepare me for the challenges of being a judge," she said. "I know the law but, more importantly, I know the emotions that are often driving those involved in the court process."
During Venhuizen's interview process, she was asked to describe traits of judges who inspired her. The most common thread, she noticed, was their kindness.
"Those are the judges I hope to emulate during my time on the bench," she said.
Venhuizen filled a vacancy created during this year's legislative session, when three additional judgeships were added to the state. One of the positions was designated to the Northeast Central Judicial District, which serves Grand Forks and Nelson counties. The district now has six judges.
"The selection to fill a vacancy for a judgeship in North Dakota, it's not an easy process," said North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon J. Jenson. "The interest in judgeships is usually very high."
There are 55 district court judge positions throughout the state's eight districts. In an average year, the judges — with assistance from clerk of courts offices — handle approximately 180,000 cases, Jenson said. The size of the counties they serve, the vast knowledge required to complete their duties and the workloads they take on are all challenges.
"In 2022, the Northeast Central Judicial District had 14,710 cases," Jenson said. "That's almost 3,000 cases per judge."
When there's a position to fill, a judicial nominating committee reviews the applications. The committee is made up of nine members: three appointed by the governor's office, three from the state bar association and three from the state's Supreme Court.
"This vacancy had many good applicants," Jenson said.
The nominating committee selects applicants to be interviewed by the governor. Once the governor meets with them, he can select one of the candidates, ask for additional names or call for a special election.
"In this instance, (Gov. Doug Burgum) was satisfied that he had found a candidate with high quality and character in Judge Venhuizen," Jenson said.
Venhuizen was presented with a gavel and robe, and was administered the oath of office. She has already begun working at the courthouse, getting familiarized with how it operates.
"Your warm welcome means a lot," Venhuizen said to her fellow district judges. "Your leadership and example set a high bar and serve as an inspiration."
