Justice Edward Engerud (N.D. Supreme Court)

On this date in 1907, Justice Edward Engerud resigned as a Justice on the North Dakota Supreme Court. Born on February 13, 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, Engerud moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota in 1881 where he began studying law. After being admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 1889, he practiced law in Fergus Falls, MN for four years before moving to Lisbon, ND. Engerud became Ransom County (ND) State’s Attorney which was an office he held for two years before moving to Fargo, ND in 1895. Engerud was elected Cass County (ND) State’s Attorney in 1897 which was an office he held until 1900 when he was appointed Assistant U.S. District Attorney for a four year term. On August 9, 1904, Governor Frank White appointed Engerud to the North Dakota Supreme Court to the seat previously held by Justice John Cochrane, who had died in office. Engerud was elected to the seat in the 1904 election. After two years and five months in office, Engerud resigned and returned to private practice in Fargo, ND. Justice Engerud would later go on to serve as United States District Attorney for North Dakota from 1910 to 1914. Justice Engerud died on January 8, 1921 at the age of 52 in Fargo, ND. Engerud was also an expert on banking law and was published “Legal Opinions for Bankers”, which was published by Harvard University.