A new biography examines the life and long career of North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court chief justice, tracing how decades of public service shaped both the man and the court he led.
In this episode of The Backstory, NDNC reporter Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on former Chief Justice Jerry VandeWalle, whose 65-year career in state government included 45 years on the North Dakota Supreme Court. Standaert describes learning about VandeWalle’s upbringing in Noonan, his commitment to service over personal recognition, and his reputation for approachability and fairness.
The reporting also examines VandeWalle’s strong belief in judicial nonpartisanship at a time when courts are increasingly politicized. Standaert shares insights from reading the biography Call Me Jerry and from speaking directly with VandeWalle and people who know him well.
“He’s kind of married to service, and married to service to the state. It just comes out in the book quite a bit.” – Michael Standaert, NDNC Reporter
The story examines how VandeWalle’s career intersected with the evolution of North Dakota’s Supreme Court over several decades.
