Ron Hilden, who has served as a county and district judge in southwestern North Dakota for more than two decades, said he is retiring from the bench.

Hilden, 61, is resigning Nov. 1, he said in a letter to Gov. John Hoeven. Hilden is the fifth state district judge to announce retirement plans since October, and his departure leaves the governor with three judicial vacancies to fill.

A native of Hettinger, Hilden served four years in the Marine Corps before earning bachelor's and law degrees from the University of North Dakota. Hilden graduated from UND's law school in 1976.

After working as a private attorney for seven years, Hilden was appointed Stark County judge in 1983. He was elected to a Southwest District judgeship the following year, and has held the job since. Hilden won his last six-year term in 2004.

The Southwest District has three judges, Hilden, Zane Anderson and Allan Schmalenberger, all of whom are based in Dickinson. The district includes Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark counties.

The North Dakota Supreme Court will review Hilden's position to determine whether it should remain in Dickinson or shifted elsewhere.

Since October 2005, five of North Dakota's 42 district judges have announced they were resigning from the bench.

Lester Ketterling, of Bottineau, left Dec. 31, and Hoeven has appointed Minot attorney Michael Sturdevant as his successor.

Burt Riskedahl, of Bismarck, is retiring Friday. Ronald Goodman, who is based in Ellendale, is resigning Aug. 1. Hilden is departing Nov. 1, and Robert Holte of Stanley is leaving at yearâ€'s end.

Holte's term expires Dec. 31, and his replacement will be elected. The retirements of Riskedahl, Goodman and Hilden give Hoeven an opportunity to pick three new jurists.

Ten lawyers have already applied to be considered for Riskedahl's job, and a judicial screening committee plans to interview them Thursday, said William Neumann, director of the state Bar Association.