The Hon. Lonnie Olson is a judge for the North Dakota Northeast Judicial District. He was elected to the bench on November 8, 2016, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Lee Christofferson.
The Northeast Judicial District includes Benson County, Bottineau County, Cavalier County, McHenry County, Pembina County, Pierce County, Ramsey County, Renville County, Rolette County, Towner County, and Walsh County.
Prior to his election, Olson was the State’s Attorney for Ramsey County, a position to which he was named in 1990. Before that, he spent time as an attorney in private practice (1987 to 1989), supplementing his practice with service as special assistant state’s attorney for the Lake Region Child Support Enforcement Unit (1990).
Olson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in 1984. He then completed a J.D. at the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1987.
Raised in Devils Lake, North Dakota, Olson attended Devils Lake Central High School.