Lawsuit Against Grand Forks County By Former Grand Forks Jail Administrator Heading To Trial In 2027

Burkholder is suing the county for wrongful termination and age discrimination. He is 63-years-old and the lawsuit was filed last November. The trial is scheduled to begin on August 30, 2027, and go until September 1st.

The case had named several individual county employees as defendants before allegations against them were dismissed, even though the lawsuit against the county was allowed to proceed. Those employees were Sheriff Andy Schneider, as well as County Commissioners Terry Bjerke and Mark Rustad.

Burkholder worked as the jail administrator for nearly 18 years. The Grand Forks County Commission voted to fire him on April 1, 2025, and he was officially fired by Schnieder a week later. The complaint accuses the county of firing Burkholder “without proper authority and without providing adequate due process procedural protections.”

The County hired Jodi Hilde to replace him. The lawsuit says Hilde is much younger and has less experience.

Hilde was appointed to a subcommittee where she represented the correctional center when they considered consolidating the jail and sheriff’s office. Burkholder was apparently interested in serving on that subcommittee.

Burkholder is asking to get his job back with all benefits. He is also seeking to be reimbursed for the wages and benefits he lost, as well as to receive both compensatory and punitive damages and attorney’s fees.