North Dakota Century Code Title 49. Public Utilities § 49-01-09. Attorneys for public service commission--Attorney general--State's attorney--Duties--Additional counsel--Compensation

The attorney general shall be ex officio attorney for the commission and personally or through commerce counsel shall:

The state's attorney in any county, on request of the commission, shall institute, prosecute, appear in, and defend for the commission any and all actions and proceedings which the commission may institute and prosecute or to which the commission is a party. The commission may employ additional counsel to assist such attorney general or state's attorney, when in its judgment the exigencies of the case may require. The fee of such additional counsel shall be determined by the commission and approved by the office of management and budget and paid out of funds appropriated for such purpose.