Berg v. Jaeger

2020 ND 178, 948 N.W.2d 4
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 26, 2020
Docket20200184
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 2020 ND 178 (Berg v. Jaeger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Berg v. Jaeger, 2020 ND 178, 948 N.W.2d 4 (N.D. 2020).

Opinion

Filed 8/26/20 by Clerk of Supreme Court

IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

2020 ND 178

Rick Berg, individually in his capacity as a resident and elector of the State of North Dakota, and as Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, Petitioner v. Alvin Jaeger, in his capacity as North Dakota’s Secretary of State, and Travisia Jonette Minor, A/K/A Travisia Martin, Respondents

No. 20200184

WRIT OF INJUNCTION GRANTED.

Per Curiam.

Courtney A. Presthus, Dickinson, N.D., for petitioner.

Matthew A. Sagsveen, Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General, Bismarck, N.D., for respondent Alvin Jaeger.

McLain J. Schneider (argued), Fargo, N.D., and David C. Thompson (appeared), Grand Forks, N.D., for respondent Travisia Martin. Berg v. Jaeger No. 20200184

[¶1] Rick Berg, as a resident and elector of this state, and as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, petitioned this Court to exercise its original jurisdiction and issue a writ of mandamus directing Secretary of State Alvin Jaeger to remove Travisia Jonette Minor, A/K/A Travisia Martin from the November 3, 2020, general election ballot for the office of insurance commissioner. We exercise our original jurisdiction to consider Berg’s petition, and we grant an alternative writ of injunction.

I

[¶2] On April 2, 2020, Martin filed an affidavit of candidacy, statement of interest, and certificate of endorsement with Jaeger requesting she be placed on the primary election ballot as the North Dakota Democratic-NPL party candidate for North Dakota Insurance Commissioner. In the affidavit of candidacy, Martin certified she met the requirements to hold the office of insurance commissioner.

[¶3] On May 20, 2020, the executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party sent a letter to Jaeger stating Martin was ineligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner because she was not a North Dakota resident for five years preceding the November 2020 election. The Republican Party alleged Martin was ineligible to hold elective office because she voted in Nevada in the November 2016 election. The Republican Party requested Jaeger remove Martin from the November 2020 general election ballot.

[¶4] On May 28, 2020, Jaeger sent a letter to Martin requesting information regarding her North Dakota residence. In response, Martin asserted she had maintained her physical residence in North Dakota since 2015. Martin also admitted to voting in Nevada in the November 2016 election, claiming she was unfamiliar with North Dakota’s voter eligibility requirements. Martin included with her response a letter from Dale Vander Vorst attesting that Martin had been residing with him in North Dakota since before November 2015. Martin

1 also included letters from her former attorney and orthopedic surgeon stating she moved to North Dakota in 2015.

[¶5] Jaeger refused to remove Martin from the ballot, stating he may only remove a candidate from the ballot if the candidate refuses to accept the party nomination or if ordered to do so by a court. On July 9, 2020, Berg petitioned this Court for a writ of mandamus directing Jaeger to remove Martin from the general election ballot. Berg contends Martin was not a resident of North Dakota in 2016 when she voted in Nevada, and therefore she will be ineligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner because she will not have been a resident for the required five years preceding election.

[¶6] Following oral argument, this Court ordered the district court to hold an evidentiary hearing and make findings of fact on “whether [Martin] will have been a North Dakota resident for the five years preceding the 2020 general election.” On August 12, 2020, the district court held an evidentiary hearing. The court heard testimony from Martin and Vander Vorst and received several exhibits into evidence. After the hearing, the court found “Martin was not a North Dakota resident until sometime after November 2016.”

II

[¶7] Article VI, § 2, of the North Dakota Constitution states this Court “shall have appellate jurisdiction, and shall also have original jurisdiction with authority to issue, hear, and determine such original and remedial writs as may be necessary to properly exercise its jurisdiction.” This Court’s authority to issue original writs is discretionary and may not be invoked as a matter of right. Riemers v. Jaeger, 2018 ND 192, ¶ 5, 916 N.W.2d 113. “It is well settled that the power to exercise our original jurisdiction extends only to those cases where the questions presented are publici juris and affect the sovereignty of the state, the franchises or prerogatives of the state, or the liberties of its people.” Id. “The interest of the state must be primary, not incidental, and the public must have an interest or right that is affected.” Id.

[¶8] The issue in this case concerns the eligibility of a candidate for state office to hold the office and “involves the people’s power to govern themselves

2 through the voting process.” Riemers, 2018 ND 192, ¶ 6. Our cases have recognized the public interest involved with the power of the people to govern themselves in the voting process. Id. The issue here involving the eligibility of a candidate for state office is a matter of public interest warranting the exercise of this Court’s original jurisdiction to consider Berg’s petition.

III

[¶9] “Under N.D.C.C. § 32-34-01, this Court may issue a writ of mandamus to compel performance of an act which the law specifically enjoins as a duty resulting from an office.” Riemers, 2018 ND 192, ¶ 7. “A petitioner for a writ of mandamus must show a clear legal right to performance of the act sought to be compelled and must establish no plain, speedy, and adequate remedy exists in the ordinary course of law.” Id. To be enforceable by mandamus, the law must require an act to be done; mandamus cannot compel an official’s discretionary actions. Eichhorn v. Waldo Twp. Bd. of Supervisors, 2006 ND 214, ¶ 19, 723 N.W.2d 112.

A

[¶10] Berg claims Martin is not eligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner because she will not have been a North Dakota resident for five years preceding the election.

[¶11] Eligibility to hold elective office in the executive branch is governed by N.D. Const. art. V, § 4, which states that “[t]o be eligible to hold an elective office established by this article, a person must be a qualified elector of this state, must be at least twenty-five years of age on the day of the election, and must have been a resident of this state for the five years preceding election to office.” A resident of this state, as used in the Constitution, means having had a legal residence “entitling one to vote or to hold office in the state of North Dakota.” State ex rel. Sathre v. Moodie, 65 N.D. 340, 258 N.W. 558, 562 (1935). Several factors relevant to determining one’s legal residence are set forth in N.D.C.C. § 54-01-26:

Every person has in law a residence. In determining the place of residence, the following rules must be observed:

3 1. It is the place where one remains when not called elsewhere for labor or other special or temporary purpose and to which the person returns in seasons of repose. 2. There can be only one residence. 3. A residence cannot be lost until another is gained. .... 7. The residence can be changed only by the union of act and intent.

[¶12] “A legal residence is the place where an individual has established his home, where he is habitually present, and which he intends to return to when he is away for business or pleasure.” Dietz v. City of Medora, 333 N.W.2d 702, 705 (N.D. 1983).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Hoff v. City of Burlington
2025 ND 62 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2025)
Zundel v. City of Jamestown
2024 ND 162 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2024)
Nordquist v. Alonge
2024 ND 157 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2024)
Hendrix v. Jaeger
2022 ND 168 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2022)
OSWALD v. IRELAND-IMHOF
D. New Jersey, 2022
Burgum v. Jaeger
2020 ND 251 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2020)
Onstad v. Jaeger
2020 ND 203 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2020)
Oversen v. Jaeger
2020 ND 190 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2020)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2020 ND 178, 948 N.W.2d 4, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/berg-v-jaeger-nd-2020.