The Education Of A Judge

The North Dakota Supreme Court has admonished a municipal court judge

This is a disciplinary proceeding against Paul Hagen, municipal judge of the McClusky Municipal Court. We conclude Hagen violated the North Dakota Code of Judicial Conduct. We impose an admonition with conditions.

On July 16, 2024, Hagen and and disciplinary counsel entered into an agreement for discipline by consent under R. Jud. Conduct Comm. 14, which includes Judge Hagen’s affidavit acknowledging his misconduct and consenting to an admonition with conditions. On July 26, 2024, the Hearing Panel referred the matter to this Court under R. Jud. Cond. Comm. 14. Hagen admitted that he failed to obtain 18 hours of continuing education credits within the reporting period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023. Hagen admitted this failure violated N.D. Code Jud. Conduct 1.1, N.D. Sup. Admin. R. 36 and N.D.C.C. § 4018-22; and violated N.D. Code Jud. Conduct Rules 2.1 by not prioritizing the completion of his judicial education over his personal and extrajudicial activities.

Paul Hagen agreed to completed the balance of 5.75 continuing education credits for the previous reporting period prior to the date of the hearing scheduled in this matter on July 17, 2024. The Court has not been advised Paul Hagen did not obtain the credits, and we note the matter was referred to us by the Hearing Panel after the date Paul Hagen’s compliance with the agreement was due.

(Mike Frisch)