N.D. Cent. Code § 40-18.1-23 (2025)
With the agreement of the state court administrator, the governing body of a city may, by ordinance, transfer some or all of the cases of the municipal court to the district court serving the county in which the city is located without abolishing the municipal court. Cases transferred under this section are deemed district court cases for purposes of appeal. The agreement must provide the city is responsible for providing for the prosecution of the cases and for providing a defense attorney in cases involving an indigent defendant.