Judge Steven McCullough Retires From Cass County Courthouse

On his final Monday serving as presiding judge for the East Central District in the Cass County Courthouse, Judge Steven McCullough sat in his third-floor office displaying a parody Care Bear toy holding a sign that read an “I Don’t (expletive) Care Bear.” While the toy matched his public reputation as a gruff jurist, colleagues argue his courtroom demeanor masked a deep, personal investment in the people appearing before him.

Why did colleagues say Judge McCullough cared more than anyone?

Colleagues who worked alongside McCullough for years push back against his formidable bench presence. U.S. Attorney Nick Chase, a former judge and former mentor to McCullough, described him as one of the most thoughtful people on the bench. Cass County State’s Attorney Kim Hegvik noted that while he could seem intimidating, he was deeply invested in his work.

That empathy showed most clearly in juvenile treatment court, according to Hegvik. She watched McCullough feel such a strong responsibility when a young participant failed in the program that he would sometimes tear up on the bench.

Working with him in that court, I saw a side of him a lot of people don’t get to. He was so invested with the kids who were participating, and he really felt a responsibility when a kid wouldn’t succeed in the program, to the point where he would sometimes tear up on the bench. He cared so much about trying to make a difference in those kids’ lives.

Judge Stephannie Stiel praised McCullough for the hours he dedicated to improving the district’s case management and scheduling processes. Stiel also relied on him for advice during difficult decisions. Beyond court operations, Hegvik recalled that McCullough kept an urn of hot cider in his office every fall and turned his television to a continuous loop of a burning fireplace to create a cozy hallway atmosphere.

What led Steven McCullough to the bench?

McCullough first considered a legal career as a seventh grader at L.E. Berger Middle School in West Fargo. A career aptitude test suggested he was best suited to become a door-to-door salesman. Rejecting sales and avoiding a career in medicine because he could not stand the sight of blood, he chose the law.

As Cass County grows, retiring judge writes of 'fear for the future' in resignation letter

He graduated from Moorhead State with a political science major and philosophy minor before earning his law degree at the University of North Dakota. After clerking, he spent 17 years at West Fargo’s Ohnstad Twichell law firm, focusing on estate litigation and water law for small resource districts and rural water users.

A personal loss prompted his shift toward the judiciary. After his father passed away at age 59 in 2000, McCullough reflected on his family’s lifespan and decided to seek a judgeship. His initial attempts at gubernatorial appointment faced political headwinds, including having driven Heidi Heitkamp in the West Fest parade during John Hoeven’s governorship. He ultimately ran for an open judgeship in 2004 and won, later running unopposed in 2010, 2016, and 2022. He became the district’s presiding judge in 2024 following the retirement of Judge John Irby.

McCullough emphasizes patience after 22 years on the bench

Taking over as presiding judge in 2024 brought an immediate logistical hurdle. The construction of an additional courtroom forced the district to redesign its entire court schedule. Looking back on 22 years on the bench, McCullough emphasized patience as his greatest lesson. He noted that while he was not as patient in his mid-40s as in his mid-60s, reminding himself to slow down and let people have their say changed his approach.

That perspective influenced how he wrote legal opinions. Remembering his early days in private practice when he struggled to understand confusing judicial opinions, he made a point to write rulings for everyday people rather than just attorneys. He found joy in presiding over adoptions, calling them the one setting where everyone is happy, alongside drug court, which allowed him to see people succeed and graduate rather than just face punishment.

McCullough warns of resource shortages in the judicial district

In his retirement letter to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, McCullough issued a detailed plea for securing more resources for the East Central Judicial District. He warned that without planning for additional growth, the courts risk becoming so bogged down that they might break.

The state’s judicial nominating committee will interview candidates and present a final list to Gov. Armstrong later this year. Meanwhile, Judge Wade Webb, the longest-tenured in the state, will step in as the district’s next presiding judge.

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