Shockman appointed to judgeship seat in Southeast Judicial District

Dec. 1—JAMESTOWN — Gov. Doug Burgum appointed LaMoure County State's Attorney James Shockman on Friday, Dec. 1, to the open judgeship in the Southeast Judicial District.

I'm honored to serve as a judge for the state of North Dakota and the Southeast Judicial District," Shockman said. "I would like to thank Gov. Burgum and the judicial nominating committee for the appointment."

Shockman will fill seat #1 in the Southeast Judicial District, which is chambered in Jamestown. The term expires in 2024.

The vacancy in the Southeast Judicial District was created after Burgum appointed Judge Cherie Clark on July 31 to one of the two newly created judgeships in the East Central Judicial District, which comprises Cass, Steele and Traill counties. The North Dakota Supreme Court was also notified on July 31 of Clark's resignation from the Southeast Judicial District, which was effective Sept. 3.

Shockman was one of three attorneys who were named as finalists for the Southeast Judicial District judgeship.

"I'm very pleased that the governor had three very able attorneys to choose from and I'm looking forward to working with him (Shockman)," said Daniel Narum, presiding judge of the Southeast Judicial District. "I think he will make an excellent judge. His experience and personality I think will come together nicely for the district and the people of the district. I appreciate the work of the nominating committee in sending the governor those three very qualified attorneys to choose from for the position."

The Southeast Judicial District consists of Barnes, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman and Wells Counties. The district has seven judges: one judge chambered in Ellendale, one in New Rockford, one in Wahpeton, two in Jamestown, and two in Valley City.

Shockman has served as LaMoure County state's attorney since January 2019 and has owned and operated a private law firm, Shockman Law PLLC, in LaMoure since 2015, practicing and litigating in general civil matters.

As state's attorney, he is LaMoure County's lead prosecutor and also serves as legal counsel and adviser to the county and its boards and commissions. Shockman previously was in private practice in Bismarck and Phoenix. He also has worked as a law clerk for the Hennepin County (Minnesota) Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis and the Minnesota Attorney General.

"I have vast experience in both the civil side as well as the criminal side," Shockman said. " ... What I would bring to the bench is just the overall understanding of the culture and the people in the community because I was born and raised in a small town here and understand the values of the people in the area."

Narum said Shockman has experience from civil work in the intellectual property area. Trademarks, patents, and copyrights are different types of intellectual property, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's website.

"It's typically a very refined specialty," Narum said.

Shockman grew up in Berlin, North Dakota, where he continues to manage field operations for his family's farm and is a board member and owner of Larson Grain Co. in LaMoure. He also serves as an adviser and volunteer for JakeStar Inc., an organization he co-founded in 2012 to enrich the lives of children through quality entertainment and creative community involvement.

Shockman earned his bachelor's degree in business management from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and his law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.