SBAND PRESIDENT
CONTINUING TO FOCUS
ON RURAL PRACTICE, YOUNG LAWYERS,
AND MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
CHARLES DEMAKIS
SBAND President
Summer is in full swing and, as I sit here
writing this, I am enjoying a beautiful North
Dakota day on Lake Sakakawea. Summer
is a busy time for all North Dakotans as we
try to squeeze in as much as possible during
these long, warm, sunny, and fun-filled days.
The children are out of school and t-ball,
soccer, baseball, and summer camps are in
full swing. I am spending as much time as
I can on the lake with my two boys trying
to catch as many walleyes as possible, while
also swimming and tubing, and taking in the
boys’ summer activities.
As president-elect of SBAND, I have been
busy in the last year with our usual board
meetings and working on preparing for the
upcoming year as your president. I have been
attending leadership meetings presented by
the American Bar Association (ABA), as
well as the Western States Bar Association.
This past February, I attended the National
Conference of Bar Presidents in San Diego,
Calif. This meeting was held in conjunction
with the ABA mid-year meeting and allowed
me to connect with other bar leaders to
discuss the challenges facing local and state
bar associations.
I presented to the Western States Bar
Association conference in San Diego in
April regarding the lawsuit against our
association, which is currently under appeal.
4
THE GAVEL
This was an excellent opportunity to learn
of the challenges facing integrated bars. I
also learned several non-mandatory bars
are facing challenges similar to our pending
lawsuit. I was also able to attend the ABA
Bar Leadership Institute in Chicago in
March and was able to network, learn, and
interact with other bar leaders regarding
programs they are using to provide for their
members and lead their associations.
As a result of the lawsuit against SBAND,
we now have a policy in place for challenges
to expenditures and a hearing/appeal process.
The plaintiff has appealed part of the ruling
in the case, and we anticipate oral argument
on the matter before the 8th Circuit Court
of Appeals at some point this year.
SBAND continues to work on providing
the best for its members. Executive
Director Tony Weiler, along with Jeanne
Schlittenhard and the rest of the excellent
SBAND staff, are constantly working on
new ideas and initiatives for our members.
Recently, the State Board of Law Examiners
decided to discontinue publication of the
lawyers and judges member directory.
SBAND stepped in and all of you recently
received the annual member directory in a
new format. We hope you continue to find
the new directory useful and a valuable
resource.
SBAND has made it a priority and focus
to assist with rural justice and rural practice
issues facing our state. Recently, the
association was able to fund two summer
clerkships for University of North Dakota
law students to work with two rural judges.
This would otherwise not have been possible
due to state budget cuts.
I look forward to serving SBAND and you
during the next year as president. I hope
to continue the work we are doing with
rural practice, as well as focus on keeping
our young lawyers active in the association.
There are several important committees and
task forces in SBAND, and I ask anyone
interested in getting involved to contact
SBAND or me. We have very dedicated
and active members who are truly assets to
the association and profession. I am very
open to any ideas or concerns any member
has, and I encourage you to contact me with
those at any time. I am proud to serve the
members of SBAND for the next year as
your president and am looking forward to a
very busy and rewarding year.