North Central Judicial District Judge Douglas L. Mattson has announced his retirement, effective June 1, 2025.
In a letter addressed to Governor Kelly Armstrong and Chief Justice Jon Jensen, Judge Mattson expressed gratitude to the voters who supported him during his tenure. "To the voters who allowed me to serve, I truly thank you. It has been a humbling honor," he stated.
Judge Mattson was first elected as a District Court Judge in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He is currently the longest-serving judge in the North Central Judicial District and holds the position of second longest-serving judge in North Dakota.
Born in Minot, N.D., Judge Mattson served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1978 to 1982. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1985 and was admitted to the N.D. bar on November 18, 1985. His career includes work with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Senator Mark Andrews in Washington, D.C., between 1985-1986 before returning to private legal practice in Minot from 1987-1990. He served as Ward County State's Attorney from 1990 until his election as a judge in 2002.