--- title: "Daniel John Crothers | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Daniel John Crothers North Dakota Supreme Court · Justice ## Profile - Court: North Dakota Supreme Court - State: North Dakota - Role: Justice - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, North Dakota Supreme Court, 2005-present - Daniel J. Crothers is a former North Dakota Supreme Court justice, appointed in June 2005 and retiring in February 2026, as confirmed by the official court history - American lawyer and jurist who held the role of a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court from June 2005 until his retirement in February 2026 - He then practiced law in Santa Fe, NM, and Fargo, ND, and worked as Assistant State’s Attorney in Walsh County, ND (1983–1984) - After law school, Crothers held the role of a law clerk for Judge Ramon Lopez of the New Mexico Court of Appeals (1982–1983). - At retirement, he was the longest-serving justice on the court - He clerked for the New Mexico Court of Appeals, practiced in Santa Fe and later North Dakota, and held a position as Walsh County assistant state’s attorney and Grafton assistant city attorney ### Education - B.A. from the University of North Dakota in 1979, followed by a J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1982 ### Additional information - He won Supreme Court elections in 2008 and 2012. - On June 10, 2005, Governor John Hoeven appointed Crothers to the North Dakota Supreme Court to replace William A. Neumann. - He was a Nilles Law Firm member and partner in Fargo in 1987–2005. - Practitioner, 2004-2004 - President of the State Bar Association of North Dakota (2001–2002). - He led the State Bar Association in 2001–2002 and later contributed to judicial-ethics, professional-responsibility and court-administration committees. - Raised in West Fargo, American Samoa and Albuquerque, he earned University of North Dakota undergraduate and law degrees in 1979 and 1982. - Born January 3, 1957. - Date of birth: 1957-01-03 - Eldorado High School - Crothers was born in Fargo, North Dakota, and grew up in West Fargo, American Samoa, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. - He chaired multiple judicial and bar association committees, including the North Dakota Court Services Administration Committee and the Committee on Judiciary Standards. - He was also active in the American Bar Association, serving as past chair of the Standing Committee on Client Protection and the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility Policy Implementation Committee - He also taught at the National Judicial College. - Birth place: Fargo ## 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: 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.courtlistener.com/person/5324/daniel-john-crothers/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5324/daniel-john-crothers/) - [North Dakota Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5324/daniel-john-crothers/) - [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 Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers notifies Armstrong of Feb. 28, 2026, retirement date | North Dakota State Government - ND Portal](https://www.nd.gov/news/north-dakota-supreme-court-justice-daniel-crothers-notifies-armstrong-feb-28-2026-retirement) - [Wikidata: Daniel J. Crothers](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5217609) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5324/daniel-john-crothers/) - [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 Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers notifies Armstrong of Feb. 28, 2026, retirement date | North Dakota State Government - ND Portal](https://www.nd.gov/news/north-dakota-supreme-court-justice-daniel-crothers-notifies-armstrong-feb-28-2026-retirement) - [Wikidata: Daniel J. Crothers](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5217609) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324", "name": "Daniel John Crothers | KnowJudges", "description": "Daniel John Crothers, North Dakota Supreme 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/daniel-john-crothers-5324#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324#judge", "name": "Daniel John Crothers", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "North Dakota Supreme Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5324/daniel-john-crothers/" ], "birthDate": "1957-01-03", "birthPlace": "Fargo", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of North Dakota" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of North Dakota" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of North Dakota" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of North Dakota School of Law" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Eldorado High School" } ] }, { "@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": "Daniel John Crothers", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/daniel-john-crothers-5324" } ] } ] } ```