United States Magistrate Judges are appointed for eight year terms and have a broad range of responsibilities in both criminal and civil cases. The Magistrate Judge system evolved from the United States Commissioner system established in 1793. In 1965, Congress passed legislation which replaced the position of “Commissioner” with the position of “Magistrate,” and Congress changed the title to “Magistrate Judge” in 1990.
For many years in the District of North Dakota, the magistrate judge positions were primarily part-time. Beginning in 1985 and continuing until 2015, the district had a combination of full-time and part-time positions. Currently, the district is allocated two full-time positions, one in the Eastern Division and one in the Western Division.
Clare R. Hochhalter was appointed to a full-time position in the Western Division in 2019. He succeeded Charles S. Miller, who began his service in 2004 and who has continued to serve on recall status since his 2018 retirement.
Alice R. Senechal was appointed to a full-time position in the Eastern Division in 2015, after serving in a part-time position in Grand Forks from 1990-2015. Judge Senechal succeeded Karen K. Klein, who served in a full-time position from 1985 to 2015, after eleven months in a part-time position in Fargo.
Dwight C.H. Kautzmann held the full-time position in the Western Division from 1996 to 2004 and served in part-time positions in Bismarck from 1978 to 1994 and in Minot from 1994 to 2004.
Before full-time positions were established in the district, part-time judges and commissioners were stationed in various cities in the district, primarily handling initial stages of criminal matters. In what is now the Eastern Division, William A. Hill served in a part-time position in Fargo from 1975 to 1984. He succeeded Odin J. Strandness, who served from 1971 to 1975. John E. Rilling served in the Fargo position from 1970 to 1971. David Kessler served in Grand Forks from 1959 until 1990. Serving in Minnewaukan from 1975 to 1979 was Lewis C. Jorgenson. Ronald M. Dosch served in a part-time position in Devils Lake from 1979 to 1985, and Ted Weisenburger served in the same position from 1972 to 1974. Howard A. Olson served in Minnewaukan from 1970 to 1971. Arne R. Boyum served in a part-time position in Rolla from 1976 to 1980 and 1981 to 1984, in a position held by Charles C. Chinquist from 1973 to 1975 and by Robert D. Hartl from 1970 to 1972.
In what is now the Western Division, Alan K. Grindberg served from 1977 to 1978, succeeding Harry J. Pearce who had served in that position beginning in 1970. Kenneth M. Knutson served in Minot from 1958 to 1994. From 1970 to 1974, Everett E. Palmer served in a position in Williston.
Kenneth M. Knutson, Minot, U.S. Commissioner (1958 to 1970); part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1994)
David Kessler, Grand Forks, U.S. Commissioner (1959 to 1970); part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1990)
Harry J. Pearce, Bismarck, U.S. Commissioner (1970); part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1977)
Everett E. Palmer, Williston, Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1974)
Odin J. Strandness, Fargo, part-time Magistrate Judge (1971 to 1975)
Ted Weisenburger, Devils Lake, part-time Magistrate Judge (1972 to 1974)
Robert D. Hartl, Rolla, part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1972)
Howard A. Olson, Minnewaukan, part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1971)
John E. Rilling, Fargo, part-time Magistrate Judge (1970 to 1971)
Charles C. Chinquist, Rolla, part-time Magistrate Judge (1973 to 1975)
William A. Hill, Fargo, part-time Magistrate Judge (1975 to 1984)
Lewis C. Jorgenson, Minnewaukan, part-time Magistrate Judge (1975 to 1979)
Arne F. Boyum, Rolla, part-time Magistrate Judge (1976 to 1980; 1981 to 1984)
Alan K. Grindberg, Bismarck, part-time Magistrate Judge (1977 to 1978)
Ronald M. Dosch, Devils Lake, part-time Magistrate Judge (1979 to 1985)
Dwight C. H. Kautzmann, Bismarck and Minot, part-time Magistrate Judge in Bismarck (1978 to 1994);
- part-time Magistrate Judge in Bismarck and Minot (1994-1996); Magistrate Judge in Bismarck (1996 to 2004)
Karen K. Klein, Fargo, part-time Magistrate Judge (1985); Magistrate Judge (1985 to 2015); designated Chief Magistrate Judge in 2004
Alice R. Senechal, Grand Forks and Fargo, part-time Magistrate Judge in Grand Forks (1990 to 2015), Magistrate Judge in Fargo (2015 to present)
Charles S. Miller, Jr., Bismarck, Magistrate Judge (2004 to 2019); recall (2019 to present)
Clare R. Hochhalter, Bismarck, Magistrate Judge (2019-present)