North Dakota Legislature Votes to Hire Outside Counsel for Term Limits Lawsuit

North Dakota lawmakers to hire outside lawyers to defend state in term limits lawsuit

BISMARCK — North Dakota legislative leaders have voted to hire outside attorneys to represent them in a new lawsuit over a ballot measure that would change voter-approved legislative term limits. The suit, filed last week, argues that the Legislature violated the state constitution when it passed a resolution creating the ballot measure last year. The ballot measure, if approved, would alter the 2022 constitutional amendment that established leg…

Lawsuit alleges North Dakota Legislature ‘exceeded its authority’ regarding term limits

BISMARCK, N.D. – Two individuals are asking the North Dakota Supreme Court to determine whether or not Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008 is unconstitutional, and therefore void. Terence Bjerke and Leverrett Larsen filed the lawsuit against the Legislative Assembly and Secretary of State Michael Howe. Bjerke was a member of the sponsoring committee of the Term Limits Initiative, and Larsen is a former member of the North Dakota Senate. A bill was…

North Dakota Legislature votes to hire outside counsel for term limits lawsuit

North Dakota's Legislative Management Committee voted to hire outside counsel to represent the Legislature in a lawsuit over a controversial term limits resolution passed during the 2025 session.