O\u27Keefe, James H.

English

UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota)

North Dakota Law Review Volume 78 Number 2 Article 9 2002 Quite a Ride James H. O'Keefe Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/ndlr  Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation O'Keefe, James H. (2002) "Quite a Ride," North Dakota Law Review: Vol. 78 : No. 2 , Article 9. Available at: https://commons.und.edu/ndlr/vol78/iss2/9 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in North Dakota Law Review by an authorized editor of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact und.commons@library.und.edu. QUITE A RIDEHONORABLE JAMES H. O'KEEFE"I suppose at a time like this, as in an obituary, one is to say all thingsnice. Yet, one must be true to one's self. So a confession: My feelingsabout Rodney have not always been benevolent. Well, how would you likeit if you had a job for two years, which you worked to get and won, andsome upstart lawyer filed against you? I did not like it either. Modestyprevents me telling you the result.Rodney and I had a lot in common. We both served as state's attorneyof Walsh County and municipal judge in Grafton. We both did trial workacross the table from the other. The latter was not necessarily a pleasantexperience as Rodney had this habit of too often winning. Laymen (andsometimes lawyers) have difficulty understanding how two people, whoseemingly hate each other in a litigation milieu, can be seen together later ingood cheer.I became a judge while Rodney was still in practice and I am pleased tonote he never filed an affidavit of prejudice, though he did tell me once thatmy decision "stunk"-a judgment never rendered on him. His favoriteexpression of outrage was and is "I am shocked." He was easily shocked.Rodney and Betty had many wonderful years in Grafton. He was apartner with Elton Ringsak, the most decorated soldier of World War II.My memories tend to the humorous, too many and too detailed to disclosehere. I was honored to speak at his investiture in Fargo. I think I said hewas a man of integrity and common sense, with a fine grasp of the law anda fire to do his best. I was not wrong.As he nears the end of his judicial road, he can look back with joy onhis charmed small-town childhood in Cavalier, his years as a student andathlete at the University of North Dakota, and his marvelous family. It hasbeen quite a ride.* North Dakota Supreme Court Surrogate Judge; formerly presiding Judge of theNortheast Judicial District of North Dakota.

Quite a Ride

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Quite a Ride

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