JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Valley News Live/NewsDakota.com) – Some criminal cases have been dismissed in Stutsman County due in part to a lack of prosecutors.

Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen says the shortage is so bad, he can’t go after the cases he normally would.

The North Dakota Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution in April, asking the judiciary to investigate what can be done.

Fremgen says the Supreme Court is assembling a task force to look into it and UND School of Law has been working to attract law students and retain law grads in the state.

In the summer of 2022, Stutsman County’s Board of Commissioners made upward revisions to assistant state’s attorney salaries from about $68,000 to about $73,000. That did not produce applicants.

More recently, the Board went up to about $83,000 for a starting attorney. Salaries are slated for review again on July 18. Fremgen says there’s been a strong indication there will be another boost in salaries.

*Editor’s note, the story that ran earlier, about a former Stutsman County jailer who had his case dismissed was incorrect.