Ralph J. Erickstad (August 15, 1922 – July 12, 2001) was the Chief Justice on the

North Dakota Supreme Court The North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the state of North Dakota. The Court rules on questions of law in appeals from the state's district courts. Each of the five justices is elected on a no-party ballot for a ten-year ...

from 1973 to 1992. He retired December 31, 1992 after serving 30 years on the Supreme Court.

Biography

Erickstad was born near the farming community of

Starkweather, North Dakota Starkweather is a city in Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 100 at the 2020 census. Starkweather was founded in 1902. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. ...

. He was the descendant of Norwegian immigrant homesteaders. He served in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

(Eighth Air Force) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as a gunner and radio operator aboard a

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models desi ...

. After World War II he was honorably discharged from service. He attended the

University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (UND) is a Public university, public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It was established by the Dakota Territory, Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishm ...

and went on to achieve a J.D. from the

University of Minnesota Law School The University of Minnesota Law School is the law school of the University of Minnesota, a public university in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school confers four law degrees: a Juris Doctor (J.D.), a Master of Laws (LL.M.), a Master of Science in Pa ...

. In 1949, he began practicing law in

Devils Lake, North Dakota Devils Lake is a city in and the county seat of Ramsey County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 7,192 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 7,314 in 2024. It is named after the nearby lake called Devils Lake. The first ho ...

. Between 1949 and 1962 he progressed from police magistrate to states attorney, to state senator. In 1962 he was elected to serve on the North Dakota State Supreme Court. Starting in 1973, he was repeatedly elected to the position of Supreme Justice for five years at a time until his retirement in 1992. In 2000, the North Dakota Supreme Courtroom was dedicated in his honor.

Awards and honors

*North Dakota National Leadership Award of Excellence (1987) *Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar Association (1988) *National Center for State Courts' Distinguished Service Award (1987) *AJS Herbert Harley Award from the American Judicature Society (1992)

Personal life

He married Lois K. Jacobson on July 30, 1949 in

Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

. They were the parents of two sons. Erickstad died in

Bismarck, North Dakota Bismarck (; from 1872 to 1873: Edwinton) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat, seat of Burleigh County, North Dakota, Burleigh County. It is the state's List of cities i ...

during 2001. He was buried in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in

Mandan, North Dakota Mandan is a city on the eastern border of Morton County, North Dakota, Morton County and the List of cities in North Dakota, eighth-most populous city in North Dakota. Founded in 1879 on the west side of the upper Missouri River, it was designat ...

References

External links

Ralph J. Erickstad biographyNorth Dakota Supreme Court official website
1922 births 2001 deaths University of Minnesota Law School alumni Chief justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court North Dakota lawyers American Lutherans American people of Norwegian descent 20th-century American judges 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century Lutherans United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court {{NorthDakota-state-judge-stub