Update

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court justice is back in the hospital after he was released to another facility for rehabilitation following treatment for the coronavirus. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Justice Gerald VandeWalle. who was released from Sanford Health Bismarck’s COVID-19 unit a week ago, was readmitted Monday following a chest X-ray,. VandeWalle says the test showed a “little clot” in his lung and he has been short of breath. The 87-year-old VandeWalle has been on the court for 42 years. He served as chief justice from 1993 through 2019.

 

Previously

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court justice has been released from the hospital where he has been recovering from COVID-19. Chief Justice Jon Jensen said Justice Gerald VandeWalle was discharged Friday to a facility for rehabilitation to regain his strength. The Bismarck Tribune reports that VandeWalle has continued his work on the court. He has been reading briefs and emails and drafting opinions while in the hospital. VandeWalle, who has been on the court for 42 years, had been hospitalized at Sanford Health in Bismarck since Aug. 3. VandeWalle isn’t sure how he contracted COVID-19. He had been working from the state Capitol amid the pandemic and has worn a mask and gloves while shopping.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s longest-serving Supreme Court justice expected he would be released from the hospital this week where he has been recovering from COVID-19. Justice Gerald VandeWalle, who has been on the court for 42 years, has been hospitalized at Sanford Health in Bismarck since Aug. 3. The 87-year-old justice says the virus has been much more debilitating than a typical cold or flu. VandeWalle tells the Bismarck Tribune that he lost a lot of his strength while confined to his room. He says he has been keeping up with his work on the court, reading emails and printed briefs and drafting opinions.

Previously

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s former Supreme Court Chief Justice has tested positive for COVID-19. The court said Justice Gerald VandeWalle is currently receiving treatment. The 86-year-old VandeWalle had been the longest-serving chief justice in state history. He did not seek reappointment to the post last year but remains on the court. Court administrator Sally Holewa said no other justice or member of the Supreme Court staff has tested positive for the virus. Chief Justice Jon Jensen says most court employees have been working remotely. Case arguments have been held virtually online. VandeWalle was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1978.