Grand Forks Rep. Claire Cory’s DUI Charge Dropped

May 21 – GRAND FORKS – The arraignment of a Grand Forks lawmaker accused of DUI has been dismissed.

Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, was

arrested on suspicion of drunk driving

on May 7th. She pleaded not guilty to the class B misdemeanor on May 16. Class B misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.

An arraignment in her case that was scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, appears to have been canceled because she intends to schedule a plea change hearing, according to the case docket. As of Tuesday morning, no change of plea hearing had been scheduled. A pretrial conference in the case is still scheduled for July 16.

Ward Johnson, Cory’s attorney, did not return a call for comment. Police also declined to comment on her case on Monday, May 20, because they still consider the case open.

Cory represents District 42 of Grand Forks in the state Legislature. District 42 generally includes the west end of Grand Forks, on the west side of I-29, along with a strip of land reaching Grand Forks Air Force Base. It also includes a segment jutting east into Grand Forks between DeMers Avenue and Gateway Drive.

She first took office in 2019 when she was appointed to fill Rep. Jake Blum’s seat when he moved out of state. She was elected to the position again in 2020.

Cory is now running for the District 42 Senate seat held by Sen. Curt Kruen, R-Grand Forks, who is not seeking re-election. She will face Dustin McNally in the June primary.