North Dakota’s Dan Traynor Just Got A Major Seat On The Federal Bench

The U.S. Senate has confirmed North Dakota U.S. District Judge Dan Traynor to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He was nominated in May and will fill a vacancy on the court following Judge Ralph Erickson’s move to senior status.

Traynor has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota since 2020. His confirmation to the appellate bench marks the next step in his federal judicial career.

North Dakota Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven supported Traynor’s nomination and previously backed his appointment to the federal district court.

“Well, I'm just really proud of my friend Dan Traynor,” said Cramer. “I've known him for over 30 years. I've worked with him, was honored to support him for district judge; he's exactly the kind of person that we need on the circuit. He's earned this—through his intellect, through his hard work, and through his really good decisions. I'm proud of him—and glad my colleagues agreed with me today and we finally moved Dan into that higher position he so richly deserves, and North Dakota so badly needs.”

During his time on the district court, Traynor has presided over a range of cases, including civil, regulatory and constitutional matters. His rulings have addressed issues involving federal policy, business and employment law, and disputes involving state and federal authority.

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Before joining the federal bench, Traynor practiced law in North Dakota, working in areas such as business litigation, election law, insurance, torts and Indian law. He graduated with distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law and previously worked as an extern to U.S. District Judge Patrick Conmy and clerked for North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle.

Traynor has also held leadership roles in a number of legal and public service organizations, including the Judicial Conference of the United States, the American Bar Association, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, the State Bar Association of North Dakota and the Disciplinary Board of the North Dakota Supreme Court.