N.D. Cent. Code § 11-21-01

The presiding judge of the judicial district in which a county is located may, after consultation with the judges of the judicial district, appoint a public administrator for that county. A public administrator may be a corporation or limited liability company. The initial appointments under this section may be made upon completion of the terms of public administrators elected in 1984. The public administrator shall hold office for four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The presiding judge may appoint a single public administrator to serve more than one county within the district court's jurisdiction.