The State Bar Association of North Dakota Summer 2015 Gavel Magazine | Page 9

Gatherings held
at historic
Bismarck locations
Those attending the annual meeting had a
chance to explore several historic Downtown Bismarck venues that were used for
social events and CLE programs. The Luft
Rooftop Bar brought was the gathering place
for the opening night social, and the newly
expanded North Dakota Heritage Center
was the site for the North Dakota Bar Foundation Social and Auction.
In addition to the plenary session on the
History of Law in North Dakota, the Belle
Mehus Auditorium was also the location for
a CLE on North Dakota’s human trafficking
issues, presented by former U.S. Attorney
Tim Purdon and Christina Sambor,
coordinator of FUSE, the statewide antitrafficking coalition.
A courtroom at the Burleigh County
Courthouse was the location for a
presentation by Fargo lawyer Ron McLean
on “How to Get the Jury to Love Vladimir
Putin and Me.” The patio of the former
Bismarck train depot, now Fiesta Villa
Restaurant, provided atmosphere, complete
with train traffic, for the program on “North
Dakota’s Role With Railroads,” by Public
Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak and
Judge James Hill.
Other CLE program topics covered
how lawyers can develop a self-audit of
their practices by Coyle and Johnson and
succession planning and handling client
funds by Mark Bassingthwaighte,  a risk
manager with professional liability insurance
carrier ALPS.  Chronic stress, trauma, mental
health and addiction issues were presented by
addiction counselor Diane Merkel.
Two annual CLEs were again presented.
The Casemaker CLE was given by Rebecca
Skeeles, and several presenters participated in
the Legal Services of North Dakota seminar.

Dr. Kim Porter, a history professor at the University of North Dakota, shares some of the
history of the development of law in the state at Bismarck’s historic Belle Mehus Auditorium.
Joining her on the stage were from left, SBAND President Jack McDonald, former Grand
Forks Herald publisher Mike Jacobs, Supreme Court Justice Dale Sandstrom and Bismarck
attorney Bill Pearce.

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