Portrait Supreme Court Justice Lisa Fair-McEvers
Justice Lisa Fair McEvers has been elected the first female chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court, winning about 83% of votes cast by sitting justices and district court judges Wednesday, according to Mary Steurer of the North Dakota Monitor.
McEvers defeated Justice Jerod Tufte, who received about 16% of the vote. She will assume the role January 1st, succeeding Chief Justice Jon Jensen, who chose not to seek reelection to spend more time with family but will remain on the court.
McEvers has served as a Supreme Court justice since 2014 when she was appointed by Governor Jack Dalrymple. She previously ran for chief justice in 2019, losing to Jensen. Her plans are to increase resources for district court judges and phase out judicial referee positions.
North Dakota is the only state where chief justice is elected by a vote of sitting justices and district court judges. Fifty-eight of 59 eligible voters cast ballots. McEvers is the fourth woman to serve on the North Dakota Supreme Court and previously served as Cass County assistant state’s attorney and Labor Commissioner.
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