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South Central District Judge
Questions:
1. Please describe, in your words, the position you are running for.
2. Why is this relevant to voters?
3. What qualifies you for the office you are seeking?
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Parrell Grossman
1. A judge of the South Central Judicial District presides over the district courts in 12 surrounding counties and makes decisions in legal matters upon the applicable facts and law.
2. Judges have some of the most significant responsibilities in state government. They are required to make difficult and important decisions in matters including constitutional issues involving basic rights, criminal dispositions and child custody determinations impacting victims, individuals and families their entire lives, and complicated financial issues that will significantly affect the involved parties. Judges must do so in accordance with the law and the information they may legally consider, without regard to personal feelings.
3. I will bring to the Court 22 years of legal experience, including general practice in the areas of family, criminal and commercial law, and litigation. As an Assistant Attorney General I've worked extensively in the areas of commercial law litigation, fraud and antitrust. This, along with my public service experience on the Bismarck School Board for six years and now as a Bismarck City Commissioner for two years, gives me a unique combination of legal and public service that I will bring to the Court. Whether involving hearings for school expulsions or street improvements, these positions have required the same decision-making skills needed on the Court, i.e, careful evaluation and weighing the facts, law, and arguments. My peer evaluation also is relevant. A statewide survey of lawyers and judges on the qualifications of candidates for this judgeship ranked my scores in all categories higher than my opponent in the areas of professional competence, legal experience, integrity, judicial temperament, and overall qualifications.
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Cynthia Feland
1. I am running for retiring Judge Wefald's seat. Both urban and rural communities are served by judges of our district. A unique facet of our district is that judges travel to twelve counties, not unlike circuit judges traveled the Dakota Territory before statehood. In their travels, judges hear cases and issue opinions on a wide range of issues from contract disputes and family law issues to murders.
2. A judge's role is not unlike an umpire's who calls balls and strikes and makes sure the game is fairly played. A judge's role is to ensure that justice is done in each case. Relevant to that is a judge's ability to listen. Sometimes people appear in court without an attorney while others have benefit of counsel. Regardless, judges need to listen to what people have to say about their problems. All people appearing before the court must be treated impartially, fairly, and with respect.
3. In the past 20 years either in private practice or as a prosecutor, I have tried over 300 jury trials ranging from murders, sex and drug offenses to civil disputes. These experiences have been invaluable. Being a mother, Girl Scout leader, and teacher at Minot State keeps me in touch with the concerns of people. Those concerns have helped me translate courtroom experiences into legislation dealing with sexual predators, DNA, and a host of other issues. As a result, the AG appointed me chair of the crime laboratory's committee to ensure implementation of DNA testing protocols and procedures.
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