Judge Halbach has a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a JD from the William Mitchell College of Law. He worked for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, was in private practice, and served as assistant state’s attorney and an adjunct instructor in legal assistant and peace officer training programs in North Dakota. He became Municipal Judge for Devils Lake, North Dakota, in 2002, a Hearing Officer for the North Dakota Department of Transportation in 2003, and was designated Chief Hearing Officer for the North Dakota Department of Transportation in 2015. He received certification by NAHO as a hearing officer in 2011, served as representative for the Mountain Region, and is currently NAHO’s Vice President.