Don Hager: Retirement announced; effective 2027-01-01.
announced retirement:
Status: announced
Don Hager
Presiding District Judge · North Dakota Northeast Central Judicial District Court
Upcoming changes
Don Hager at a glance
- Current role
- Presiding District Judge
- Jurisdiction
- North Dakota · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Biography
Professional career
- The official court announcement identifies him as presiding judge and confirms a planned retirement effective January 1, 2027
- Before appointment he practiced in Larimore, represented municipalities, provided indigent defense and held the role of special assistant attorney general for the Bank of North Dakota from 2003.
Education
Additional information
- Donald “Don” Hager serves in North Dakota’s Northeast Central Judicial District at Grand Forks, appointed by Governor Jack Dalrymple in 2014 after Sonja Clapp retired.
- He served in the Navy in 1974–1980, earned Mayville State University bachelor’s qualifications in 1983 and a University of North Dakota J.D. in 1986, and joined the state bar that year.
- His court initiatives included veterans’ and domestic-violence courts.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
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.
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 ↗
Sources
Identity source checked October 2, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 2, 2026.
North Dakota Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View North Dakota Court System official judicial roster ↗North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 52: Reliable Electronic Means Proceedings ↗Announced judicial service transition
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 2, 2026
View Announced judicial service transition ↗Announced judicial service transition
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 2, 2026
View Announced judicial service transition ↗