Defendant Filed Writ With North Dakota Supreme Court
The attorney for Dallas Rice asked the court to reassign his case and reinstate his bond.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Dallas Rice, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft, has filed a supervisory writ with the North Dakota Supreme Court. The filing seeks to reassign the case to a new judge outside the North Central district and secure his release from jail.
Why it matters
The motion argues that Judge Gary Lee should have permitted a plea withdrawal after rejecting the proposed deal. The defense is now seeking intervention from the state's highest court to challenge the current judicial proceedings.
Dallas Rice is currently held at the Ward County Jail following his guilty plea to conspiracy to commit theft. Co-defendant Nichole Rice previously pleaded guilty to one charge and was ordered to serve 60 days in jail.
The players
Dallas Rice
He is the defendant currently in custody at the Ward County Jail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft.
Gary Lee
He is the judge who rejected a proposed plea deal in the case against the defendants.
Nichole Rice
She is a co-defendant who pleaded guilty to one charge and was ordered to serve 60 days in jail.
North Dakota Supreme Court
It is the state's highest court currently reviewing the request for a supervisory writ filed by the defense.
The details
The defense attorney contends that the case should be moved to a different judge after the rejection of the plea agreement. The ongoing legal dispute stems from allegations that Dallas and Nichole Rice took more than $180,000 from the Souris Valley Bowmen in Minot.
Timeline
The alleged theft occurred from 2023 to 2026.
Nichole Rice entered her guilty plea in September 2026.
Dallas Rice entered a guilty plea in late September 2026.
The attorney filed the request with the North Dakota Supreme Court in October 2026.
Legal Context
The request for a supervisory writ highlights the procedural mechanisms available to defendants when challenging lower court judicial decisions. This filing follows the established protocols for petitioning the state's highest court under North Dakota judicial recusal standards.
This case highlights the ongoing judicial process regarding the misappropriation of funds from a local archery group. Residents may follow court updates to see how the Supreme Court ruling impacts the trial timeline and the resolution of the theft allegations.
The takeaway
Defendants retain the right to challenge judicial rulings through higher court petitions when they believe their plea agreements were unfairly handled. These filings are critical steps in the legal system to ensure that both the prosecution and defense adhere to established court standards.
Further reading
For more information on state legal procedures, visit Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kfyrtv.
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