Opinion ID: 896887
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Impact of Proposed Vacancy Disposition on Travel Requirements.

Text: [¶ 22] As noted above, the weighted caseload study allocates travel time variously to the districts, with the East Central Judicial District assigned a low travel time adjustment, the Southeast Judicial District assigned a high travel time adjustment, and the Northwest Judicial District assigned a medium travel time adjustment. The Northwest Judicial District argues the loss of a judge in Minot will make the district a high travel district. The Southeast Judicial District argues placement of a judge in Jamestown would greatly reduce the travel time required of all the judges in the district, thereby making their time more available for the duties of judging. The East Central Judicial District does not argue the addition of a judge would significantly affect the travel adjustment of the district because the judges, with or without an addition, would be concentrated where the major population of the district resides. [¶ 23] A review of the actual travel mileage of the judges in the Northwest and Southeast Judicial Districts over the last biennium (July 1999 to June 2001) supports the allocation of travel time adjustments under the caseload study. [¶ 24] The Northwest Judicial District is comprised of 6 counties totaling 11,013 square miles. The district population under the 2000 census was 95,449. Until the death of Judge Dill, the district was served by seven judges and one referee. The judges and referee traveled 40,477 miles in the first year of the biennium or an average of 5,072 miles per judge/referee. In the second year of the biennium the judges and referee traveled 45,970 miles or an average of 5,746 miles per judge/referee. The weighted caseload study allocates 6,150 minutes per year for travel time per judge/referee in this district. [¶ 25] The Southeast Judicial District is comprised of 11 counties totaling 12,395 square miles. The population of the district under the 2000 census was 86,767. During the last two years the district has been served by 6 judges and no referees. During the last biennium, the judges traveled 73,137 miles or an average of 12,190 miles per judge during the first year and 69,135 miles or an average of 11,523 miles per judge during the second year. The weighted caseload study allocates 12,300 minutes per year for travel for each judge in this district. [¶ 26] We recognize that travel in both the Northwest and Southeast Judicial Districts is greater than would be required if the distribution of judges reflected the distribution of the population. In each district, travel would be reduced by the relocation of one chambers within the district. In addition we recognize the loss of Judgeship No. 6 in Minot would have a greater impact on the district than the loss of a judgeship in another location simply because the largest population resides in Minot. However, we do not consider at this time the transfer of chambers under N.D. Sup.Ct. Admin. R. 7.1, and we are mindful of the directive of subsection 1 of § 27-05-08, N.D.C.C., which results in inefficiencies relating to travel. [¶ 27] Assuming the computation submitted by the Northwest Judicial District of the anticipated average annual travel required is accurate at 36,672 minutes per year, the district will not become a high travel district even if the judgeship is not retained in Ward County. The average travel time per judge/referee is 5,239 minutes based upon the district's projection. The loss of a judgeship in Minot will cause a greater need for travel adjustments. If the computation submitted by the district were adjusted by doubling the projected trips to Minot by all judges not chambered there, the total travel minutes would be 49,952 or an average of 7,136 minutes per judge/referee. This is substantially less than the average miles currently traveled by the judges in the Southeast Judicial District. [¶ 28] We recognize this order results in 2 judges and a judicial referee remaining in Minot to meet the demands for judicial services in Ward County, with the attendant concern for the possible impact on the provision of timely judicial services. And we recognize the continuing effort by the Southeast Judicial District to provide effective judicial services to the citizens of that district. [¶ 29] We conclude, however, that the clear trends in population generally, the impact of a younger population on the need for judicial services, and the weighted caseload studies illustrate effective judicial administration is best served by transfer of the vacant judgeship to the East Central Judicial District. We will make available to the Northwest and Southeast Judicial Districts assistance to optimize the use of judicial resources. [¶ 30] IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, the unexpired term in vacant Judgeship No. 6 shall be transferred to the East Central Judicial District. The judgeship shall be designated as Judgeship No. 8, with chambers in Fargo. The vacancy in this judgeship shall be filled in accordance with ch. 27-25, N.D.C.C. and N.D. Const. art. VI, § 13, as amended effective June 9, 1998. [¶ 31] Dated at Bismarck, North Dakota, this 14 day of December, 2001. [¶ 32] GERALD W. VANDE WALLE, C.J., CAROL RONNING KAPSNER, MARY MUEHLEN MARING, WILLIAM A. NEUMANN, and DALE V. SANDSTROM, JJ., concur.