On Monday, Nov. 21, the Supreme Court will name a conference room in honor of Justice Beryl J. Levine, the first woman to serve on the Court. The ceremony will be held in the Ralph J. Erickstad Courtroom beginning at 9 a.m. and is open to the public.

Justice Levine was appointed to the North Dakota Supreme Court on Jan. 17, 1985, by Governor George A. Sinner.

A 1974 graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, she was in private practice with a Fargo law firm for ten years before being appointed to the Court.

After her 1985 appointment to the Court, she was elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term in 1986, and on November 8, 1988, was elected to a ten-year term.

During her time on the Court, Justice Levine worked enthusiastically in dedicated service to the judiciary, the state, and North Dakota citizens.  Especially important to her were issues relating to juvenile justice and family law – particularly, areas of spousal support, custody, legal ethics, and gender equality and equity in and before the courts.  Her enduring commitment to eliminate gender-bias and racism in the administration of justice led to the creation of the Commission on Gender Fairness in the Courts and Legal Profession.  Established in 1989 and Co-Chaired by Justice Levine, the Commission submitted its final report in 1996, setting the course for an implementation committee charged with developing a detailed course of action to eradicate gender bias in North Dakota courts.

Justice Levine was awarded the Margaret Brent Award given by the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession and the Sioux Award, the highest honor given by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation.

Justice Levine served 11 years and one month before resigning from the Court on March 1, 1996. She died June 4, 2022, in San Mateo, California.