649 Millennium - Seventeenth Edition LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Gerald W. VandeWalle dedicated his life to serving the state’s justice system, spending more than two decades as the Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court. Initially pursuing a degree in accounting, Mr. VandeWalle discovered his interest in law during a college class, and after graduating from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in accounting, he attended the University of North Dakota’s law school. In 1958, he received a Juris Doctor and began practicing law, serving as the special assistant attorney general for the State of North Dakota. Mr. VandeWalle joined the North Dakota Supreme Court as a justice in 1978 and rose to chief justice in 1993. He remained in this position until 2019 and retired from the Supreme Court in 2023. During his tenure as a judge, he received the Rough Rider Award, the highest honor bestowed by the State of North Dakota, for outstanding contributions to the state’s legal system. Other awards presented to him include the President’s Medal of Honor from the University of North Dakota, the Harry L. Carrico Award from the National Center for State Courts and the North Dakota State Bar Association Distinguished Service Award. He attributes his accomplishments to his upbringing in the small town of Noonan, North Dakota, where he developed a strong sense of community and accountability that remained with him throughout his career. As he transitions into retirement, Mr. VandeWalle remains in touch with many lawyers and state court officials, offering his valuable expertise in the legal field as a mentor and consultant. In 2020, the University of North Dakota School of Law renamed its law school courtroom in his honor in recognition of his contributions to the school and field. GERALD W. VANDEWALLE CHIEF JUSTICE (RETIRED) North Dakota Supreme Court Bismarck, ND
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