The North Dakota Constitution of 1889 created a system of district courts to serve as courts of original jurisdiction below the Supreme Court. It prescribed the numbers and sizes of the original districts, as well as providing for judges and their terms of office. District Three was created in 1889, to include Cass, Steele and Traill counties. Presiding judges included William B. McConnell 1889-1896, Charles A. Pollock 1897-1916, and Albert T. Cole 1917-1919.

In 1909 the North Dakota Legislature enacted a law providing that district court judges should hence forth be elected on a no-party ballot. This measure became effective with the 1910 election. (1909 N.D. Sess. Laws ch. 82, §1). The 1919 Legislature reorganized the district court system, reducing the number of districts to six, but for the first time establishing multi-judge districts. Additional judges were added in 1919, 1955, and 1967. District One, created in 1919 included Nelson, Grand Forks, Griggs, Steele, Barnes, Traill, and Cass counties. Three judges were assigned initially and two additional judges were added in 1967.

In 1979 the Supreme Court directed a complete reorganization of the district court system. The state was divided into seven districts identified in terms of their geographic locations. Cass County became part of the East Central Judicial District, together with Steele and Traill counties. The 1991 North Dakota Legislature unified the trial courts by abolishing the county courts and combining their functions into the district court.