North Dakota Case Commentaries

Waived Jury-Instruction Challenges Define the Elements for Sufficiency Review: State v. Guthmiller (2025 ND 162)

Date: Oct 10, 2025

Waived Jury-Instruction Challenges Define the Elements for Sufficiency Review: State v. Guthmiller (2025 ND 162) Introduction In State v. Guthmiller, 2025 ND 162, the North Dakota Supreme Court...

Remote Child Testimony Permissible Upon Presence‑Specific Trauma Impairing Communication: Commentary on State v. Moen, 2025 ND 163

Date: Oct 10, 2025

Remote Child Testimony Permissible Upon Presence‑Specific Trauma Impairing Communication: State v. Moen, 2025 ND 163 Introduction In State v. Moen, 2025 ND 163, the North Dakota Supreme Court...

Campbell v. State: No State Duty to Collect Third‑Party Digital Evidence and the Primacy of Strickland Prejudice in Postconviction Review

Date: Sep 27, 2025

Campbell v. State: No State Duty to Collect Third‑Party Digital Evidence and the Primacy of Strickland Prejudice in Postconviction Review Introduction In Campbell v. State, 2025 ND 152, the North...

Mandatory Registration for Juvenile Felony Sexual Offenses Under Pre–July 2025 N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-15(2)(a): Interest of K.I.B., 2025 ND 157

Date: Sep 27, 2025

Mandatory Registration for Juvenile Felony Sexual Offenses Under Pre–July 2025 N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-15(2)(a) Case: Interest of K.I.B., 2025 ND 157 (N.D. Sept. 25, 2025) Court: Supreme Court of North...

Kraft v. State: Substance Over Label—Invoking Summary Disposition Standards Triggers a 30‑Day Response Period in North Dakota Postconviction Proceedings

Date: Sep 27, 2025

Kraft v. State: Substance Over Label—Invoking Summary Disposition Standards Triggers a 30‑Day Response Period in North Dakota Postconviction Proceedings Introduction This commentary examines the...

State v. Lee (2025 ND 148): Compromise Statutes Do Not Bar Prosecutorial Dismissal of Felonies; Trial Courts May Deny Rule 48(a) Dismissals Only on Evidence of Bad Faith or Comparable Abuse

Date: Sep 12, 2025

State v. Lee (2025 ND 148): Compromise Statutes Do Not Bar Prosecutorial Dismissal of Felonies; Trial Courts May Deny Rule 48(a) Dismissals Only on Evidence of Bad Faith or Comparable Abuse...

Fixed-Fraction NPRIs Are Calculated on the Entire Described Tract—Even Where Part Lies Below the Missouri River’s OHWM: Commentary on Garaas v. Continental Resources, 2025 ND 146

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Fixed-Fraction NPRIs Are Calculated on the Entire Described Tract—Even Where Part Lies Below the Missouri River’s OHWM: Commentary on Garaas v. Continental Resources, 2025 ND 146 Introduction In...

Juliuson v. Johnson: Waiver Can Defeat Lease Renewal Options; Specific Performance Requires Proven Breach; Bad‑Faith Tort Remains Insurance‑Only

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Juliuson v. Johnson: Waiver Can Defeat Lease Renewal Options; Specific Performance Requires Proven Breach; Bad‑Faith Tort Remains Insurance‑Only Introduction In Juliuson v. Johnson, 2025 ND 139, the...

Facial Physical‑Takings Claims Accrue Upon Implementation, Not Enactment: ND Supreme Court Clarifies Standing and Jurisdiction in CO2 Pore‑Space Amalgamation

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Facial Physical‑Takings Claims Accrue Upon Implementation, Not Enactment: North Dakota Supreme Court Clarifies Standing and Jurisdiction in CO2 Pore‑Space Amalgamation Introduction In Northwest...

“Prima Facie or Nothing”: Carvalho v. Carvalho and the North Dakota Supreme Court’s Clarification of Custody-Modification Standards

Date: Aug 27, 2025

“Prima Facie or Nothing”: Carvalho v. Carvalho and the North Dakota Supreme Court’s Clarification of Custody-Modification Standards Introduction Carvalho v. Carvalho, 2025 ND 129, emerges from a...

State v. Hendricks: Affirmative Conduct as “Child Neglect” Absent Injury—North Dakota Supreme Court Clarifies the Abuse/Neglect Divide

Date: Aug 19, 2025

State v. Hendricks: Affirmative Conduct as “Child Neglect” Absent Injury—North Dakota Supreme Court Clarifies the Abuse/Neglect Divide Introduction State v. Hendricks, 2025 ND 143, presented the...

Boundary Lines Re-Drawn: Juliuson v. Johnson and the Limits of Good-Faith Claims Beyond Insurance Contracts

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Boundary Lines Re-Drawn: Juliuson v. Johnson and the Limits of Good-Faith Claims Beyond Insurance Contracts Introduction In Juliuson v. Johnson, 2025 ND 139, the North Dakota Supreme Court issued a...

Tamm v. Gatzke: Re-drawing the Lines – North Dakota Reins in Rule 12(c) and Re-affirms Fact-Intensive Nature of Express and Implied Easement Claims

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Tamm v. Gatzke: Re-drawing the Lines – North Dakota Reins in Rule 12(c) and Re-affirms Fact-Intensive Nature of Express and Implied Easement Claims Introduction Tamm v. Gatzke, 2025 ND 141, is the...

Clarity over Cocktails: North Dakota Supreme Court Refines the Vagueness Test for Non-Criminal Municipal Ordinances Governing Alcohol Service

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Clarity over Cocktails: North Dakota Supreme Court Refines the Vagueness Test for Non-Criminal Municipal Ordinances Governing Alcohol Service Introduction In Liquid Hospitality, LLC d/b/a Windbreak...

“Granular Privilege Review” Mandated: Anne Carlsen Center v. LeFevre and the New North Dakota Specificity Standard in Discovery Orders

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Granular Privilege Review” Mandated: Anne Carlsen Center v. LeFevre and the New North Dakota Specificity Standard in Discovery Orders Introduction Anne Carlsen Center v. LeFevre, 2025 ND 142, is a...

“Hostility Requires Objective Acts” – Roth v. Meyer and the Refined Standard for Proving Adverse Possession in North Dakota

Date: Aug 1, 2025

“Hostility Requires Objective Acts” – Roth v. Meyer and the Refined Standard for Proving Adverse Possession in North Dakota Introduction Roth v. Meyer, 2025 ND 116, is the North Dakota Supreme...

Rademacher v. State – North Dakota Supreme Court Clarifies the Evidentiary Burden for Post-Conviction Ineffective-Assistance Claims Involving Unobtained Expert Evaluations

Date: Aug 1, 2025

Rademacher v. State – North Dakota Supreme Court Clarifies the Evidentiary Burden for Post-Conviction Ineffective-Assistance Claims Involving Unobtained Expert Evaluations Introduction Steven Charles...

Axvig v. Czajkowski: Contractual Notice Provisions as Mandatory Preconditions to Any Cancellation of a North Dakota Contract for Deed

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Axvig v. Czajkowski (2025 ND 135): Contractual Notice Provisions Are Mandatory Preconditions to Any Seller-Initiated Cancellation – Even When Proceeding by Court Action Introduction Court: Supreme...

Bang v. Continental Resources: Clarifying the Implied Right to Salt-Water Pipelines and Defining the Limits of Surface-Damage Claims in North Dakota

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Bang v. Continental Resources: Clarifying the Implied Right to Salt-Water Pipelines and Defining the Limits of Surface-Damage Claims in North Dakota Introduction In Bang v. Continental Resources,...

The “Competent-Evidence Threshold” & Judicial Explanation Duty in Custody-Modification Motions – A Commentary on Carvalho v. Carvalho, 2025 ND 129

Date: Jul 23, 2025

The “Competent-Evidence Threshold” & Judicial Explanation Duty in Custody-Modification Motions Comprehensive Commentary on Carvalho v. Carvalho, 2025 ND 129 1. Introduction Carvalho v. Carvalho (2025...