Montana state Supreme Court
There will be two open seats on Montana’s highest court this cycle as Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Dirk Sandefur retire. The Montana Supreme Court takes all appeals from lower state courts and administers the state’s legal system. Justices are elected to eight-year terms.
Supreme Court elections are non-partisan, so political party membership is not a criterion that can be used to assess whether particular judicial candidates are likely to have values are consistent with the values of Gallatin County Democrats. Candidates must file for either the chief justice position or the associate justice position.
Montanans For Sensible Government has published a great article on 2024 MT Supreme Court candidates entitled Supreme Court Races – More Critical Than Ever.
Chef Justice Position
So far, only two candidates have filed for the chief justice position. An ad from the group Montanans for Fair Judiciary criticizing one of them, Jeremiah “Jerry” Lynch, as a “liberal trial lawyer” appeared in Montanans’ mailboxes last month.
Associate Justice Position
So far, two candidates have filed for the associate justice position. Of those candidates, Katherine Bidegaray, from Sidney, was the first to express the sentiment that “the Supreme Court has an important role in protecting Montanans’ rights, and that her background has shown her the importance of provisions like the right to privacy and right to a clean and healthful environment.”
| Judge Katherine Bidegaray, a lifelong Montanan and graduate of the University of Montana and the UM Law School, is a candidate in the 2024 election to serve as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court. She worked as a government attorney for 3 years and as a private attorney for 14 years and has served for 21 years as a District Judge in the Montana Seventh Judicial District.
“My choice to pursue a career in the legal profession was inspired by the truly amazing 1972 Montana State Constitution and the many rights guaranteed for all of us in that historic document. In law school, I learned about the powerful, positive impact that Montana’s Constitution and the U.S. Constitution have on our ability as Americans and as Montanans to thrive, find opportunity, and live with freedoms unlike in any other country in the world. As a three-time re-elected District Judge, I am proud of my hard-earned reputation for being impartial, fair, and true to the letter of the law and the 1972 Montana State Constitution. I am running to serve as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court because Montanans have invested in me as a person and as a lawyer. My extensive experience and in-depth understanding of our laws and our Constitution is the result of that investment. I am deeply motivated to continue to give back to the people of Montana, serving as a Justice on the Montana Supreme Court for ALL Montanans.” |
Gallatin County District Court
Gallatin Count is in the 18th Judicial District. There is one District Court in Gallatin County. District Court elections are non-partisan, so political party membership is not a criterion that can be used to assess whether particular judicial candidates are likely to have values are consistent with the values of Gallatin County Democrats.
So far, one candidate has filed for the District Court Judge Dept 1 position. Peter Ohman, was initially appointed by a Democratic Governor in 2020.
So far, one candidate has filed for the District Court Judge Dept 3 position. Gallatin County Treatment Court is a voluntary, post-conviction, adult treatment Court presided over by the Hon. John C. Brown. This program is an alternative to traditional sentencing in criminal cases where substance abuse is a motivating factor for the offender’s criminal behavior. John Brown was initially appointed by a Democratic Governor.