Ryan Younggren

FARGO (KFGO) – Longtime Assistant Cass County State’s Attorney Ryan Younggren won his bid to be an East-Central North Dakota district judge.

Younggren defeated Fargo attorney and District Court Referee Daniel Gast by a 64% to 35% margin. He will take the place of Judge John Irby, who is retiring after serving 22 years.

Younggren has been with the State’s Attorney’s Office for about 15 years and is now a personal crimes team leader. Over his 24-year legal career, he’s been a trial lawyer, major crimes prosecutor and adjunct law professor at the University of North Dakota.

Younggren has applied for appointment as a district judge in the past and ran for state’s attorney in 2022, but lost in a close race to Kim Hegvik.