FARGO — After 22 years of service, Judge Steven McCullough retired from the East Central District of North Dakota on Friday, Oct. 30. The 64‑year‑old jurist, who has overseen the district covering Cass, Traill and Steele counties, said the decision felt like “packing up a box of memories.”
Career highlights
McCullough was first elected in 2004 after a stint as a private attorney in West Fargo, where he handled a range of matters from personal injury to water law. He noted that his early work as a “junkman litigator” gave him valuable courtroom experience.
During his tenure, he presided over a variety of high‑profile cases, but he identified adoptions and the district’s drug‑court program as the most rewarding parts of his career. “I brought a desire to help people resolve disputes,” he said, emphasizing his focus on guiding litigants through some of the toughest moments of their lives.
Changes on the bench
McCullough reflected on the shift from paper to electronic filing, noting the increased pressure for rapid motion rulings. “Nobody expected you to turn around a motion in a day; now if it has ‘expedited’ on it, they expect it right away,” he observed.
He also shared a personal note, describing himself as “the same guy, the dumb kid from West Fargo” who happened to become a judge, and stressed that he does not see himself as better or worse than anyone else.
Looking ahead
Five candidates have applied to fill the vacancy, and Governor Kelly Armstrong will select the new judge. Meanwhile, Judge Wade Webb, the state’s longest‑serving judge at 23 years, has become the new presiding judge for the East Central District.
McCullough hopes his legacy will be remembered for helping people navigate difficult times in the courtroom, saying, “If I could aid people through that, I thought that would be a good way of being remembered.”
Original reporting: InForum (Fargo section) — read the source article.
