Press Releases
January 8, 2003
Senator Conrad: Erickson a "solid choice"
State judge re-nominated for federal seat in Fargo, N.D.
Washington - Senator Kent Conrad today welcomed President Bush's decision to re-nominate Ralph Erickson for a seat on the U.S. District Court for North Dakota, Eastern Division.
Erickson was nominated last year, but not confirmed before the end of the Congressional session. Late yesterday, the President re-nominated a number of judicial candidates, including Erickson.
"Ralph Erickson is a capable, intelligent and fair candidate, someone who will reflect the values of our state and serve with integrity on the federal bench," said Conrad, who consulted with the White House on the nomination last year.
"It's important that we fill the vacancies in the federal judiciary with practical, hard-working candidates who have earned the respect of their colleagues in the legal profession, and have the support of their home-state Senators in the confirmation process," he added.
Erickson has overseen trials for eight years as North Dakota's East Central District judge. He would fill the vacancy created when U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb announced he would taking senior status. He was selected "best judge in Cass and Clay counties" by an anonymous survey of 300 laywers practicing in those counties. The survey was conducted by the Forum newspaper in Fargo in March of 2002.
