title: Gerald W. VandeWalle
text: # Gerald W. VandeWalle
  
  Gerald Wayne VandeWalle (born August 15, 1933) is an American lawyer who served as a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court from 1978 to 2023. He served as the court's chief justice from 1993 to 2019.
  
  ## Early life and education
  
  VandeWalle was born in Noonan, North Dakota and graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce. While attending the University of North Dakota he joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He then received a Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1958.
  
  ## Career
  
  In late 2019, VandeWalle announced he would not seek reelection for another term as chief justice, but would remain on the court. He was the longest-serving chief justice in North Dakota history and at the time, the oldest in the nation. He retired from the court on January 31, 2023.
  
  * 1958 – admitted to the State Bar of North Dakota
  * 1975 – appointed First Assistant Attorney General of North Dakota
  * August, 1978 – appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court
  * November, 1978 – elected to serve an unexpired term on Supreme Court
  * 1985–1987 – served as the first chair of the North Dakota Judicial Conference
  * 1993 – elected Chief Justice of North Dakota Supreme Court
  * 1995 – re-elected Chief Justice
  * 2000 – re-elected Chief Justice
  * 2005—re-elected Chief Justice
  * 2010—re-elected Chief Justice
  * 2015—re-elected Chief Justice
  