In Recognition of Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle
Resolution 6 In Recognition of Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle
WHEREAS, Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle became chief justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota on January 1, 1993, having served on that Court since 1978. He relinquished his role as Chief Justice in December 2019, leaving that office as the longest-serving chief justice in North Dakota history and as the longest-serving incumbent Chief Justice in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice VandeWalle served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and Chair of the National Center for State Courts Board of Directors from 2000 to 2001, providing wise counsel and valuable leadership; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice VandeWalle served on numerous committees of the Conference of Chief Justices and was appointed by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist to the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice VandeWalle was also active in Bar activities, serving as the Conference of Chief Justices delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, as Chair of the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, and as Co-chair of the ABA Bar Admissions Committee of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice VandeWalle has received many honors and recognitions, including the National Center for State Courts Paul C. Reardon Award; the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Eighth Circuit; the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award; the ABA Robert J. Kutak Award; the NCSC Harry L. Carrico Award; the North Dakota State Bar Association Distinguished Service Award; the National Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Order of Achievement; the University of North Dakota Sioux Award; and induction into the NCSC Warren E. Burger Society; and
WHEREAS, Chief Justice VandeWalle served as Jurist-in-Residence at the Georgetown University Law Center, received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of North Dakota, and an Honorary Doctor of Leadership degree from the University of Mary; and
WHEREAS, as chief justice "Jerry" has combined superb intellect, wisdom borne from more than 40 years on the appellate bench, humility, and the highest integrity; and
WHEREAS, Jerry is respected and admired by all members of the Conference of Chief Justices as an exceptional chief justice, valued friend, and person of good humor;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Conference of Chief Justices express their heartfelt appreciation to Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle for his lifetime of service to the judiciary, his outstanding leadership and contributions to the Conference of Chief Justices, and his deep commitment to improving the administration of justice in the state courts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Conference of Chief Justices express their sincere best wishes to Jerry for a happy and healthy future.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ Board of Directors at the Conference of Chief Justices Midyear Meeting on February 5, 2020.