--- title: "Constance L. Cleveland | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Constance L. Cleveland North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court - State: North Dakota - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Elected District Court Judge for East Central Judicial District #4 in Fargo, North Dakota, serving since 2022 - Judge Cleveland has been active in legislative testimony, including 2025 support for funding Treatment Courts and a proposed Veterans Treatment Court in the East Central Judicial District. - 1997–2022: In‐house counsel & child protection attorney, Cass County Social Services - Her career encompassed a Minnesota Ninth District clerkship in 1988–1989, Burleigh County prosecution in 1989–1991, Cass County criminal prosecution in 1991–1997, and Cass County Social Services in-house counsel/child-protection work in 1997–2022 - She also represented the state human-services department as special assistant attorney general in 2003–2012 and taught at Minnesota State Moorhead for 27 years beginning in 1996 - Position: District Court Judge, East Central Judicial District #4 (Cass County) - Prior work included Law clerk for Judge Kirk Smith (ND) and intern at Grand Forks State’s Attorney’s Office ### Education - Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Education, University of North Dakota J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law, 1988 (Education). - The official court biography gives a University of North Dakota secondary-education — B.S. ### Additional information - 2003–2023: Specialist Certification: Child Welfare Law Specialist. - Elected in 2022 to North Dakota’s East Central Judicial District judgeship 4 in Fargo. - Her later admissions include the federal District of North Dakota in 1989, Eighth Circuit in 1992 and U.S. Supreme Court in 2003. - 1989: U.S. District Court, ND. - J.D. in 1988, with North Dakota and Minnesota bar admissions that year - 1960, Grand Forks, ND (Born). ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote hearing and evidence Scope: courtwide For an East Central Judicial District proceeding by reliable electronic means, intended exhibits should be marked, filed, and served at least two business days before the proceeding through Odyssey. Evidence excerpt: Any exhibits intended to be introduced into evidence should be appropriately marked, filed and served at least two (2) business days prior to the proceeding through the Odyssey electronic filing system. [East Central Judicial District Reliable Electronic Means Standing Order](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/East-Central/REM) Source checked: 2026-08-23 ### recording and devices Scope: courtwide The East Central Judicial District's published remote-proceeding order prohibits photography, video, or audio recording without the judge's prior approval and requires other electronic devices to be turned off. Evidence excerpt: All other electronic devices must be turned off. No photography, videography or audio recording of any kind is permitted without prior approval from the judge. [East Central Judicial District Reliable Electronic Means Standing Order](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/East-Central/REM) Source checked: 2026-08-23 ### remote hearing and evidence Scope: statewide North Dakota Administrative Rule 52 permits reliable electronic-means proceedings in district and municipal courts on the court's or a party's motion; a party seeking the proceeding must give notice and obtain court approval. Evidence excerpt: Parties seeking to hold an electronic means proceeding must provide notice to the other parties and obtain approval from the court. [North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings](https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/remote-proceedings-by-electronic-means-a-useful-tool) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ### remote hearing and evidence Scope: statewide North Dakota's official Rule 52 guidance states that in civil actions a court may conduct a hearing, conference, other proceeding, or take testimony by reliable electronic means. Evidence excerpt: In a civil action, the court may conduct a hearing, conference, or other proceeding, or take testimony, by reliable electronic means. [North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings](https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/remote-proceedings-by-electronic-means-a-useful-tool) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/east-central) - [Official roster](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/east-central) - [North Dakota Court System official judicial roster](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/east-central) - [East Central Judicial District Reliable Electronic Means Standing Order](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/East-Central/REM) - [North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings](https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/remote-proceedings-by-electronic-means-a-useful-tool) - [North Dakota Court System official judicial roster](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/east-central) - [East Central Judicial District Reliable Electronic Means Standing Order](https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/East-Central/REM) - [North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings](https://www.ndcourts.gov/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-supreme-court/general-news/remote-proceedings-by-electronic-means-a-useful-tool) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4", "name": "Constance L. Cleveland | KnowJudges", "description": "Constance L. Cleveland, North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4#judge", "name": "Constance L. Cleveland", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4", "jobTitle": "District Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.ndcourts.gov/court-locations/east-central" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "North Dakota", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/north-dakota" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Constance L. Cleveland", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/constance-l-cleveland-nd-ecjd-4" } ] } ] } ```