Three items of interest from North Dakota – one quite positive, the others puzzling at best.
First, the good.
Sandy Blunt, former CEO of the NoDak work comp insurance fund, gave an excellent presentation on the current state of the work comp industry, with a strong focus on which claims are most important and most deserving of attention, and why they’re also the ones often missed. (I’ve been privileged to work with Sandy on several projects, and the presentation is a great example of how much value he brings.)
If you missed it (over 600 attended the webinar), the recording is here and the slides here. (use FINEOS as password, all caps)
Now, onto the weird. And yes, both also involve Mr Blunt.
Regular readers will recall Sandy appealed his conviction (on ridiculous charges) to the North Dakota Supreme Court fifteen months ago, with oral arguments heard seven and a half months ago. As of yesterday, the Supreme Court had not yet seen fit to issue a ruling in the case.
One has to ask why. Dozens of cases that were filed and argued after Blunt’s have been decided and those decisions released. The evidence is in, the arguments have been heard, there has been plenty of time for clerks to research precedents and judges to confer.
Yet no decision has been announced. Why not?
Even stranger, the prosecutor responsible for the conviction, Cynthia Feland, continues her electoral campaign for judge despite ratings from the North Dakota Bar Association that are lower than any other candidate. Perhaps the members of the Bar in NoDak are aware of some of Feland’s…issues.
Members of the ND State Bar Association were asked to rank, on a scale of one to five, the qualifications of attorneys running in contested state judicial elections’ professional competence, legal experience, judicial temperament, integrity and overall qualification.
Feland ranked lowest in every single category. Every one. And she was ranked lowest overall as well, with a 2.83 out of 5.00.
With the primary election scheduled for June 8 (a week from yesterday), Feland is hoping to be one of the top two vote-getters, a distinction that would put her into the general election in November.
Perhaps the Supreme Court is waiting on the results of the primary before announcing their decision. If that is the case, it is indeed unfortunate that politics would play any role in the judicial process.
If that isn’t the reason for this close-to-record delay, than what is?
Jun
2
