ND Supreme Court to hear Pendleton appeal

The North Dakota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week in the appeal of Salamah Pendleton.

Pendleton was convicted in the May 2020 shooting death of Grand Forks officer Cody Holte – and his own mother Lola Moore. Pendleton was convicted by a jury of firing at officers while they were serving eviction papers at his south Grand Forks apartment.

Among the questions being raised by Defense Attorney Kiara Krauss-Parr:  Whether the court created a structural error denying Pendleton’s right to a public trial…whether he had the right to personally be present during all jury selection…and the possibility of jury misconduct.

The court sentenced Pendleton to life in prison without parole. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly McLean and Corporal Ron Nord.

The appeal will be heard Tuesday at 10:45 a.m.