Judge orders trial on will of former UND president

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A judge has ordered a trial to resolve disagreements about the will of former University of North Dakota President Thomas Clifford.

Clifford died last February, and two of his sons by his first wife are challenging their father's will. It left most of Clifford's property to his second wife, Gayle, and named her as the administrator of his estate.

The will said after Gayle Clifford died, what was left of Thomas Clifford's estate would be split among Thomas Clifford's sons and Gayle Clifford's son and daughter from a previous marriage.

Northeast Central District Judge Karen Braaten held a hearing on the case Thursday. The judge scheduled a trial in May of 2010.

Braaten refused a request by Clifford's sons to put Gayle Clifford under supervised administration and require her to post a bond.

Braaten says there's no evidence of misconduct by Gayle Clifford in her role as estate administrator.