Daniel M. Traynor

Education

Traynor earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Dakota and his Juris Doctor, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he served as an associate editor on the North Dakota Law Review.

Legal career

Upon graduation from law school, Traynor served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle of the North Dakota Supreme Court. From 1998 to 2019, he was a shareholder at the Traynor Law Firm in Devils Lake, North Dakota, where his practice focused on insurance defense, personal injury – branches of insurance law – and business litigation. Traynor was recommended for the district court by Senator Kevin Cramer, who announced his support for the nomination. On September 25, 2019, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On October 31, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. On December 18, 2019, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–42 vote. On December 19, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a 51–41 vote. He received his judicial commission on January 13, 2020. His service on the district court terminated on July 28, 2026, upon elevation to the court of appeals.

Court of Appeals service

On May 11, 2026, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Traynor to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to an undesignated seat. On May 12, 2026, Trump nominated Traynor to the seat on the Eighth Circuit being vacated by Judge Ralph R. Erickson. On July 16, 2026 his nomination was reported to the full Senate by a 11–10 vote. On July 22, 2026, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–46 vote. On July 23, 2026, his nomination was confirmed by a 48–47 vote. He received his judicial commission on July 24, 2026.

Memberships

Traynor is a member of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and former chair of the Disciplinary Board of the North Dakota Supreme Court. He has been a member of the Federalist Society since 2016.