The Ballot Brief
Foster County, North Dakota

North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1

One candidate is tracked for North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James T. Shockman. Candidate information follows official Foster County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

James T. Shockman is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for this seat on the Southeast Judicial District, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. This seat carries an unexpired 4-year term. James T. Shockman is the sitting judge in this seat, per the North Dakota Court System's district court judges roster. Every voter in Barnes, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman, and Wells counties elects this seat, since North Dakota district judges are elected district-wide across the Southeast Judicial District (North Dakota Supreme Court Administrative Rule 6 (effective 8/11/2021)). North Dakota district court races are nonpartisan.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. 4-year term. The sitting officeholder, James T. Shockman, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Dakota › Foster County › North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1

James T. Shockman

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Biography

James T. Shockman is a sitting judge of the Southeast Judicial District, appointed to the bench in 2024, per the North Dakota Court System. No campaign website was found as of September 25, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1 in 2026?

One candidate is tracked for North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James T. Shockman. Candidate information follows official Foster County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Dakota District Court, Southeast Judicial District, Judgeship No. 1 election in North Dakota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Dakota are on the North Dakota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Foster County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Foster County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Dakota election office, or see the full Foster County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Foster County ballot

3 tracked races in Foster County, North Dakota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
North Dakota House District 29See all 3 Foster County races
Candidate profiles
James T. Shockman, full profileOfficial North Dakota election office