Ryan Hestbeck has been appointed as a Judicial Referee in the East Central Judicial District, serving Cass County, effective March 18. The appointment was made by East Central Judicial District Presiding Judge McCullough.
Hestbeck has worked as a staff attorney in the East Central Judicial District since 2021, where he assisted judges and judicial referees on various matters, mainly focusing on family law. His responsibilities included conducting legal research, reviewing case records, preparing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and supporting court proceedings.
Before this role, Hestbeck served as an Administrative Hearing Officer with the North Dakota Department of Transportation. In that position, he presided over implied consent hearings and issued written decisions. He also worked as a Temporary Judicial Referee in the same district court system, handling small claims cases, traffic issues, and child support contempt matters.
Hestbeck began his legal career as a law clerk in Minnesota’s Eighth Judicial District before practicing as an associate attorney in Fargo. He holds a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He is licensed to practice law in both North Dakota and Minnesota.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve in this role and to continue supporting the fair and efficient administration of justice in our community,” Hestbeck said.
Hestbeck is also active outside his professional duties; he is a past president of the Cass County Bar Association and volunteers for organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He has also served as a presiding judge for the North Dakota High School Mock Trial Competition. Judicial referees play an important part by assisting district courts with various matters essential to administering justice.
