Jon Jensen
Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court
Assumed office
January 1, 2020
Preceded byGerald W. VandeWalle
Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court
Assumed office
August 15, 2017
Appointed byDoug Burgum
Preceded byCarol Ronning Kapsner
Personal details
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
EducationMinnesota State University, Mankato (BS)
University of North Dakota (JD)

Jon J. Jensen (born 1965) is an American lawyer and judge, who is the chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court.[1] He previously served as a district court judge in North Dakota from 2013 to 2017.

Education and early career

Jensen was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1965.[2] He graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High School.[3] Jensen completed a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1987, and a J.D. degree at the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1990.[2][4] He clerked for North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph J. Erickstad in 1990-91.[1]

Jensen was in private practice from 1991 to 2012 with the Grand Forks law firm Pearson Christensen, specializing in tax law and commercial litigation.[1] He and his wife Linda Bata then operated their own firm, Jensen Bata, in 2012-2013.[3] Jensen also taught trial advocacy as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Dakota School of Law, and occasionally served as a special assistant to the North Dakota Attorney General.[4]

Judicial service

The Governor of North Dakota Jack Dalrymple appointed Jensen as a state judge in November 2013, serving in the Northeast Central Judicial District, which covers Grand Forks and Nelson counties.[5] Jensen served as presiding judge in 2015-2017.[1] He was re-elected unopposed to a new six-year term in 2016.[6]

In April 2017, North Dakota Supreme Court justice Carol Ronning Kapsner announced that she would retire from the court, effective from July 31, 2017.[7] A judicial nominating commission provided the Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum with three names of possible replacements for the vacancy: Jensen, and two other state judges, James Hill and Robin Schmidt.[8] Governor Burgum announced that he had selected Jensen to replace Kapnser on July 12.[8]

Jensen was sworn in as a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court on August 15, 2017.[1] He was elected chief justice on December 12, 2019.[9] His current term on the court expires on December 31, 2030, and he is eligible to run for re-election to a new ten-year term.[7]

Publications

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Hazzard, Andrew (August 14, 2017). "Grand Forks Judge Jon Jensen becomes state Supreme Court Justice". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, ND. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Jon J. Jensen". North Dakota Supreme Court. State of North Dakota. 2017. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Jon J. Jensen: Applicant for Supreme Court". North Dakota Courts. State of North Dakota. May 17, 2017. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Burgum Appoints Judge Jon Jensen to ND Supreme Court". Office of the Governor Doug Burgum. State of North Dakota. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Dalrymple appoints Jon Jensen to Northeast Central Judicial District bench". North Dakota Courts. State of North Dakota. November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Jaeger, Alvin (November 18, 2016). "Official Results General Election - November 8, 2016". North Dakota Voting Information and Central Election Systems. Secretary of State of North Dakota. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Nick (April 25, 2017). "Supreme Court Justice Carol Kapsner to resign in July". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, ND. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Hageman, John (July 12, 2017). "Burgum appoints Grand Forks judge to Supreme Court". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, ND. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Dura, Jack. "North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jon Jensen is next chief justice". Bismarck Tribune. Archived from the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
Legal offices Preceded byCarol Ronning Kapsner Associate Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court 2017–present Incumbent Preceded byGerald W. VandeWalle Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court 2020–present
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