ON THE COVER | CHRIS MYERS
Coaching Justice:
From the Rink to the Courtroom Chris Myers, assistant United States attorney for the District of North Dakota, has a job that often involves high-profile, high-stakes cases. Yet even with the difficult scenarios he encounters every day, his high-stress job still feels like the perfect fit. As a little boy living in Wahpeton, N.D., in the ‘70s, Myers knew he wanted to go into law enforcement. He’d been inspired by his father, Earle “Bud” Myers, who fought for justice as a prosecuting attorney. Once his college years came around the bend, the choice was clear; he’d study sociology and criminal justice at North Dakota State University, followed up by two degrees in public administration and law at Drake University in Iowa. With his fiancée (now wife) still living in the FargoMoorhead area, Myers knew he wanted to move back home. It was a community he loved and wanted to be a part of once more. After moving back to Fargo, he quickly started a position with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a special agent before becoming an assistant state’s attorney for the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office the following year. “It was another opportunity to do what I wanted to do and be where I wanted to be,” Myers said. Since those posts in the mid-1990s, Myers has
18 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
gone on to hold numerous positions in the North Dakota, Minnesota and United States’ justice systems, including his most recent roles for the United States Department of Justice for the District of North Dakota as a United States attorney and his current title as assistant United States attorney. Whether he’s speaking at a conference in Spain, taking on larger cases in foreign countries and around the United States, or keeping it local by cracking down on crime in the Fargo area, Myers stressed the importance of remembering your roots. “Don’t ever forget where you came from,” Myers said. “I’ve had cases that span across the United States and other countries, but I kind of smile because I’m from Fargo.” Even with all the traveling he has done for his career, Myers never doubted where he wanted to live and grow a family. His roots were already established; his love for the community already planted. “To me ‘the good life’ means raising a family in this community and having excellent schools for your kids. The overall quality of life here doesn’t get any better, if you ask me,” Myers said. “I’ve been fortunate to be blessed working with top-notch law enforcement and staff in our office to make this community a little bit safer. That sums it up for me. Fargo is a great place with great people.”
