---
title: "Ryan Jake Hestbeck | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Ryan Jake Hestbeck

North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court · Judicial Referee

## Profile

- Court: North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court
- State: North Dakota
- Role: Judicial Referee
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-10-02

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Appointed by East Central Judicial District Presiding Judge McCullough to serve as a Judicial Referee in Cass County, effective March 18, 2026
- He became an East Central Judicial District staff attorney in 2021, supporting judges and referees, especially on family-law matters.
- Presiding judge for the North Dakota High School Mock Trial Competition
- Prior work included Served as a law clerk in Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District and practiced as an associate attorney in Fargo
- His early career encompassed clerking in Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District, private practice in Fargo, and administrative hearings for the North Dakota Department of Transportation
- Hestbeck has stated that he is “honored by the opportunity to serve in this role and to continue supporting the fair and efficient administration of justice in our community”

### Education

- in Political Science — Minnesota State University Moorhead — B.S.
- Minnesota State University, Moorhead political-science degree and a Mitchell Hamline School of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Presiding Judge Steven McCullough appointed him a judicial referee effective March 18, 2026.
- Past Cass County Bar Association president and has participated in high-school mock trial, youth mentoring, and the state medical-imaging and radiation-therapy licensing board.
- He is admitted in North Dakota and Minnesota.
- He also held the role of a temporary referee for small claims, traffic and child-support contempt matters.

## 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/district-court/district-court-judges)
- [Official roster](https://www.ndcourts.gov/district-court/district-court-judges)
- [North Dakota Court System official judicial roster](https://www.ndcourts.gov/district-court/district-court-judges)
- [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/district-court/district-court-judges)
- [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/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee",
      "name": "Ryan Jake Hestbeck | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Ryan Jake Hestbeck, 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/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee#judge",
      "name": "Ryan Jake Hestbeck",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee",
      "jobTitle": "Judicial Referee",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "North Dakota East Central Judicial District Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.ndcourts.gov/district-court/district-court-judges"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Ryan Jake Hestbeck",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ryan-jake-hestbeck-nd-judicial-referee"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```