Committee to Elect Theodore Sandberg Judge

Experienced, Fair, Trusted District Judge

Judge Theodore T. Sandberg serves as a district judge in North Dakota’s Northeast Central Judicial District. He is seeking election following his appointment to the bench so he can continue providing steady, impartial leadership on the bench and ensuring that every person who comes into his courtroom is heard, respected, and treated fairly under the law.

Judicial Experience

Judge Theodore T. Sandberg has served the people of Grand Forks, North Dakota as District Court Judge for the Northeast Central Judicial District since his appointment by Governor Doug Burgum in 2024. Being a Judge means making difficult decisions every day which impact the community and its citizens, knowing that each decision is subject to public scrutiny that might be viewed as burdensome to a lawyer or a private citizen. This is why Judge Sandberg’s courtroom and judicial efforts are always guided by integrity, fairness, and a deep respect for the rule of law, principles shaped by decades of service in the legal profession and his own community.

Legal and Professional Background

Before his judicial appointment, Judge Sandberg was a partner and litigator with the Grand Forks law firm Olson, Juntunen, Sandberg, Boettner, and Cobb, since 2011, where he built a statewide reputation as a dedicated advocate and litigator in North Dakota and Federal Courts.  While in private practice, Judge Sandberg handled and argued cases in all of North Dakota’s Federal Courthouses and in most of North Dakota’s county courthouses.

Judge Sandberg’s commitment to the legal community extends far beyond his professional work as a lawyer and a judge. He was elected by his fellow attorneys to represent the Greater Grand Forks legal community on the Board of Governors for the State Bar Association of North Dakota (SBAND) from 2016 to 2023.  He was elected by North Dakota’s legal community and served as the SBAND President from 2024–2025.  He remains on the Board of Governors as the Past-President until June, 2026. He has also served as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of both the Greater Grand Forks Bar Association and the North Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.  Dedicated to professional growth and judicial excellence, Judge Sandberg has attended the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, and is a part of the American Bar Association’s National Association of State Bar Presidents. He also serves as an adjunct judge for the Grand Forks Veterans Drug Court and District Drug Court, helping to ensure accountability and recovery for participants working to change their lives.  

Community Involvement

Judge Sandberg believes that the courts belong to the people they serve. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in community-focused activities that promote understanding of the justice system and encourage civic engagement. He has participated in outreach efforts that help residents better understand how the courts work, what to expect when they appear in court, and why impartial, independent judges are essential to a healthy democracy.

In the community, Judge Sandberg was appointed by Grand Forks Mayor Brown to the Board of the Grand Forks Public Library, serving from 2016-2020. He is also a lifetime member of the Navy League and previously served as General Counsel for the Navy League of North Dakota for many years all the way up until his judicial appointment.

Judicial Philosophy

Judge Sandberg’s judicial philosophy is grounded in a straightforward principle: judges must follow the constitution and laws of North Dakota and the United States, apply them faithfully, and treat every person with dignity. He approaches each case with an open mind, listens carefully to the evidence and arguments, and makes decisions based on the law and the facts, not on personal views or political considerations.

He is committed to impartiality and fairness, ensuring that all parties have the opportunity to be heard and to present their case. By carefully reviewing the record, weighing the credibility of testimony, and explaining his rulings clearly, Judge Sandberg works to make the process understandable and transparent. His goal is for every person who appears before him—whether they win or lose—to leave feeling that they were treated respectfully and that the process was fair.

Personal Background

Born in 1969, Judge Sandberg graduated high school in 1987 and soon thereafter enlisted in the United States Navy, volunteering for Submarine duty.  After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State in 1994, and his Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1997.  He went on to serve as a law clerk for Circuit Court Judge James A. Batzer in Western Michigan and then for United States Magistrate Judge A. Harry Branson in the U.S. District Court in Anchorage, Alaska, until 2001.   He has been a prosecuting attorney and a private practice lawyer from 2001 until his 2024 Judicial appointment.

Judge Sandberg and his wife, Elizabeth, who works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in rural Grand Forks county, have been married since 1998. They are proud parents of two children: Maddy, a university student, and Jack, a high school senior. The Sandbergs are active members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Forks.

Away from the bench, Judge Sandberg enjoys spending time with family, cheering on UND athletics, and taking in a hockey game — whether it’s at the Ralph Engelstad Arena or the Winnipeg Jets. He also enjoys skiing, tennis, cycling, hiking, and the North Dakota outdoors.

Serving Voters and the Community

Judge Sandberg’s election campaign is focused on continuing his service to the people of North Dakota’s Northeast Central Judicial District with integrity, independence, and respect for the law. He encourages voters to learn more about his work on the bench, ask questions, and stay engaged in the judicial election process.

Judge Sandberg believes a judge must be dedicated to public service, steadfast in upholding the integrity and trust that citizens place in the judicial process to the best of his ability and experience. His career and his life reflect that belief — service, fairness, and a commitment to the people of North Dakota.

Judge Sandberg respectfully asks for your consideration and support so he can continue working every day to uphold the law, protect individual rights, and maintain the public’s trust in our courts.