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Chief justice says he's a "consensus builder" BISMARCK, ND (NDPR) - North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Vandewalle is celebrating 30 years on the bench -- 15 of those as Chief.

He's been elected chief justice by his peers four times. And he's well-respected both in North Dakota -- and nationally.

"Depending on how you would like it defined, I suppose I'm a centrist in many respects," said Vandewalle. "I do try to be a consensus builder -- more so as the Chief Justice, because I think that's the Chief Justice's position. I don't try to squelch dissent -- but if there's a way of buiding the bridge, I will explore that way of doing it."

Vandewalle says it's important to have more consensus -- because the high court hears a number of cases, and North Dakota doesn't have a permanent intermediate appellate court.

"Our cases need to have as much unity as we possibly can," said Vandewalle. "If we were dissenting on a number of the cases that go through, we'd have some problems."

Vandewalle is 75. And friends and colleagues held a birthday and anniversary celebration in Bismarck August 21st. © Copyright 2009, NDPR