North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle is marking legal milestones.

Hundreds of people turned out Thursday night to honor VandeWalle's 50 years as a lawyer, 30 years on the high court and 15 years as chief justice. He turned 75 years old this month.

Former state Supreme Court Justice H.F. "Sparky" Gierke said VandeWalle has been a friend and a mentor.

"He has brought great honor to himself, his colleagues on the bench of North Dakota, and to our state," Gierke said.

VandeWalle is a native of Noonan and a University of North Dakota graduate. He was appointed to the state Supreme Court on Aug. 15, 1978, by Gov. Arthur Link. Since that time, he has been elected to the high court three times, and selected chief justice by his colleagues four times.

- Associated Press