Purdon next U.S. attorney

For the first time in more than 25 years, North Dakota’s U.S. attorney plans to base his headquarters out of the Bismarck office.

Timothy Purdon, of Bismarck, will be sworn in as the state’s next U.S. attorney in the near future, and he said Friday he plans to split his time between Bismarck and Fargo.

“My home offices will be in Bismarck, but I plan on being in Fargo a lot obviously,” Purdon told The Forum. “I’ll be back and forth and have an office in both locations.”

The U.S. attorney oversees the two offices in an administrative role and serves as the state’s chief federal prosecutor.

Ten of North Dakota’s assistant U.S. attorneys work in Fargo, while seven others work in Bismarck. The offices share a support staff of 32 employees.

North Dakota U.S. attorneys dating back to at least the 1980s have chosen to make their headquarters in Fargo, but there’s no requirement that they do so.

“That’s an independent judgment for him to make and not for anyone else to judge whether that decision is right for Tim,” said former U.S. attorney Drew Wrigley, a Bush appointee who served from 2001 until September of last year. “I support him making that decision. … I’m sure he’ll find a way to structure his time and attention between the offices.”

The Senate confirmed Purdon’s nomination Thursday evening, and Purdon said he was “humbled” to take on the job.

North Dakota Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Erickson expressed relief and joy Friday that the monthslong decision-making in Washington had finally drawn to a close.

Kristen Daum is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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