( L to R ) Carrie , Anne , Gail , Jack , and Dale
Successes and Challenges
Sandstrom notes some of the most challenging cases he encountered on the Court were related to family law . “ Those are some of the toughest cases ,” he notes . “ Family law is difficult , but a place where we made real progress is the mediation program in family law . Family law appeals are down rather substantially .”
Two memorable cases he noted during his career on the Court include a case that ended sovereign immunity for the government and a school finance case . There were many positive aspects of serving on the Court , Sandstrom notes . “ I enjoyed hearing oral arguments , I enjoyed working with a lot of great people , and it ’ s been fun watching my law clerks carrying on their careers ,” he says .
Advice for the Future
For law students and young lawyers , he notes a career in law can be very rewarding . “ There ’ s great opportunity to make a difference . Take advantage of law school ; it ’ s great training ,” Sandstrom says . “ There ’ s always room for good lawyers .”
Family and the Future
Sandstrom married Gail Hagerty , presiding judge of the South Central Judicial District , in 1993 , and together they have three children . He says he did draw perspective from Hagerty ’ s role as a trial judge and tried to apply it to his role on the Court . “ Trial judges have to make quick decisions , while the five Supreme Court justices get briefs , hear oral arguments , are assisted by law clerks , and take months to decide if the trial judge got it right .”
Sandstrom ’ s children are now grown with impressive careers , ambitions , and college plans . Jack , an NDSU graduate , works as a technical director for a theater in the Washington , D . C ., area . Carrie , a recent graduate of UND , worked in journalism , but is currently serving a year-long mission in Jerusalem and the West Bank . She plans to go to law school . Anne , a junior at Baylor University , is in the pre-med program . Sandstrom is also the son-in-law of Marilyn Hagerty , well-known Grand Forks Herald columnist , whose writing has garnered national attention .
He says he has some plans in place for his retirement , which include writing a couple of books . “ One book will cover interesting legal and political events in the first 25 years of statehood .”
“ I am also planning to travel to Jerusalem ,” he notes . “ And I have a few other articles I would like to write because I feel too much of North Dakota ’ s history is lost by not being written down . I have also been encouraged to write a book on my time serving in North Dakota .”
While he notes Judge Hagerty still has four years left of her current term on the bench , Sandstrom says she also has an idea for him in his retirement . “ She says I should clean the garage .”
8 THE GAVEL
Of his time serving North Dakota in both elected executive branch and judicial offices , Sandstrom boils it down to one thing he will miss significantly in his retirement . “ I am going to miss the people the most .”