On the Cover

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 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.”

WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

FRoM THE RiNK TO THE COURTROOM

Myers’ three constants in life have always been his love for family, work and hockey.

As a teenager, he and his family packed their bags and moved from Wahpeton to Fargo. The Myers wanted their son to be able to play hockey at Fargo North High School. The move proved to be worth it. Myers basked in the joy of playing hockey and made lifelong memories when he and his team went on to win a state hockey title in 1986. After a year of playing junior hockey for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Myers returned home for school and hockey at North Dakota State University.

Thirty years later, Myers is still enthralled with hockey.

For the past 15 years, Myers has been coaching girls and boys hockey and has even coached all three of his children in their favorite sport. It’s taken a lot of time, dedication and commitment from their family, and Myers has enjoyed every minute of it. Winter for their family remains consumed with the game they love, cheering on daughters who play Division 1 hockey and a son who plays high school hockey.

Myers with his dad, Earle “Bud” Myers. Myers’ father went to all of his hockey games and would watch his trials. “This summer was the first big trial where he wasn’t there,” Myers said.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS

Myers coaching his two daughters in hockey.

On his own, Myers still takes time to hit the rink every week to keep his skating skills sharp, providing a brisk mental break from the occasional heaviness of his job.

Whether Myers is giving a pep talk in a locker room, being a minister of justice in a courtroom, or teaching lessons to his kids in their living room, the experiences he’s had as a coach, prosecutor and father have shaped how he handles every area of his life.

For most of his career as a prosecutor, Myers has worked to identify, target and dismantle criminal organizations, prosecuting hundreds of drug trafficking cases and associated violent crimes. It takes the work of Myers and a team of law enforcement agents working together to serve justice for long-term investigations.

In those cases, Myers is the supervisor and manager of the teams, often using the lessons he’s learned as a coach to effectively lead the investigations.

“They compliment each other,” Myers said. “You want to be a good leader, teacher and mentor. As a coach and as a supervisor in the investigations, I want to put people in the best roles for the team to allow them to succeed and flourish. It’s a team endeavor.”

The phrase Myers and local law enforcement try to live by in their daily work is “One team, one voice, one fight.”

“It ties back to the hockey thing with teamwork,” Myers said. “The concept in sports that I’ve heard used is ‘The name on the back of the jersey isn’t as important as the name on the front of the jersey.’ It’s the idea that we need to put the team first. If you comprise your team with people who have that mindset and are hardworking, ethical people, you’ll succeed.”

Over the years, Myers has won innumerable awards for his work, including the 2020 Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the 2019 Leadership in the Prevention of Transnational Crime Award, and the 2018 National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area’s Prosecutor of the Year Award. Myers was also inducted into the Fargo North Hall of Fame in 2017. But when

Myers working undercover as a delivery driver in the mid-‘90s.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHRIS MYERS

these accolades are mentioned, Myers immediately gives equal credit to his teammates, saying these are team awards.

“All of those represent a team award because in all those cases, it’s not just one person, it’s a whole team of people doing the work,” Myers said. “We have some of the best law enforcement in the country, and I’ve worked with law enforcement all over the country and in foreign countries. I feel very fortunate to work with the people I do, not only with law enforcement, but our staff and my support staff as well. I’ve basically had the same support staff my whole career in the US Attorney’s Office. Lori Daly and Deb Wilson have been there since I started in ’02, and they’re a huge part of the success.”

Words Matter

In every role Myers plays, his knowledge, people skills and speaking abilities are the strengths and tools he uses to do his jobs effectively. He knows the power words have on influencing the world around him.

“As a coach, I try to talk to my players during practice. You might not know what’s going on at school for them or what’s going on at home, but make your contact with them a positive one. You might change their whole day, their whole week or their whole year,” Myers said. “When you think “The overall quality of life here doesn’t get any better, if you ask me. 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.” - Chris Myers

Many principles Myers tries to follow in life have been collected from observing the lives of his mentors and other coaches, his father, “Bud,” being his greatest influencer of all.

Myers always looked up to his dad in more ways than his career path. Bud was gregarious and would talk to everyone, generous with his time, treating people with dignity and respect.

A year ago, Myers’ father passed away, but the way in which he touched the lives of others carries on through his son’s life and work.

“I don’t know if he said it or if I just learned it from watching him, but one thing he imparted on me is how important it is to treat everybody the same, whether they’re the janitor or the judge,” Myers said. “You don’t know how much impact you can have in your contact with people, whether it’s a brief or long-standing relationship. You can be an influence on them, either positive or negative. What you say matters.” •

Myers talking with Former United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2018.