Hon. Thomas R. Olson (Ret.) was a judge for the East Central Judicial District of North Dakota. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jack Dalrymple in 2014. Olson retired in April 2022.
The East Central Judicial District includes Cass, Steele, and Traill Counties.
Prior to his appointment, Olson spent twenty-nine years handling civil litigation and mediation matters as a private practice attorney in Fargo (1985 to 2014). During that time, he was a managing partner at Johnson, Randstad & Mottinger, PLLP. Before that, Olson worked with the Clay County Attorney’s Office in Minnesota (1983 to 1985).
He received a B.A. from Augsburg College in 1976. Olson went on to complete a J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) in 1981.
He was admitted to practice in Minnesota (1981), North Dakota (1981), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1986), the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota.
Olson was involved with the North Dakota Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (secretary), the Red River Soccer Association (past president), and the First Lutheran Church of Fargo (council member).