United States District Court for the District of Montana

Last updated
United States District Court for the District of Montana
(D. Mont.)
MontanaDistrictCourt.gif
Map of U.S. - MT.svg
Location Missoula
More locations
Appeals to Ninth Circuit
EstablishedNovember 8, 1889
Judges3
Chief Judge Brian Morris
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme
www.mtd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the District of Montana (in case citations, D. Mont.) is the United States District Court whose jurisdiction is the state of Montana (except the part of the state within Yellowstone National Park, which is under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming). [1] [2] The court is located in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula.

Contents

Cases from the District of Montana are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. Kurt Alme has served as the U.S. Attorney since March 17, 2025. [3]

History

The District of Montana was organized on February 22, 1889, by 25 Stat. 676, following Montana's admission to statehood. Congress organized Montana as a single judicial district, and authorized one judgeship for the district court, which was assigned to the Ninth Circuit. A temporary second judgeship was added on September 14, 1922, by 42 Stat. 837, and was made permanent on May 31, 1938, by 52 Stat. 584. On July 10, 1984, by 98 Stat. 333, the third judgeship was authorized. [4]

Current judges

As of June 14,2023:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
19Chief Judge Brian Morris Great Falls 19632013–present2020–present— Obama
18District Judge Dana L. Christensen Missoula 19512011–present2013–2020— Obama
20District Judge Susan P. Watters Billings 19582013–present—— Obama
15Senior Judge Donald W. Molloy Missoula 19461996–20112001–20082011–present Clinton
17Senior Judge Sam E. Haddon inactive19372001–2012—2012–present G.W. Bush

Vacancies and pending nominations

SeatPrior judge's duty stationSeat last held byVacancy reasonDate of vacancyNomineeDate of nomination
2 Billings Susan P. Watters Senior status June 8, 2026 [5] ––
1 Missoula Dana L. Christensen TBD [5] William W. Mercer [6] July 15, 2025

Former judges

#JudgeStateBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 Hiram Knowles MT 1834–19111890–1904—— B. Harrison retirement
2 William Henry Hunt MT 1857–19491904–1910—— T. Roosevelt elevation to C.C.P.A.
3 Carl L. Rasch MT 1866–19611910–1911—— Taft resignation
4 George M. Bourquin MT 1863–19581912–1934—1934–1958 Taft death
5 Charles Nelson Pray MT 1868–19631924–19571948–19571957–1963 Coolidge death
6 James H. Baldwin MT 1876–19441935–1944—— F. Roosevelt death
7 R. Lewis Brown MT 1892–19481945–1948—— F. Roosevelt death
8 William Daniel Murray MT 1908–19941949–19651957–19651965–1994 Truman death
9 William James Jameson MT 1898–19901957–19691965–19681969–1990 Eisenhower death
10 Russell Evans Smith MT 1908–19901966–19791968–19781979–1990 L. Johnson death
11 James F. Battin MT 1925–19961969–19901978–19901990–1996 Nixon death
12 Paul G. Hatfield MT 1928–20001979–19961990–19961996–2000 Carter death
13 Charles C. Lovell MT 1929–20231985–2000—2000–2023 Reagan death
14 Jack D. Shanstrom MT 1932–20201990–20011996–20012001–2020 G.H.W. Bush death
16 Richard F. Cebull MT 1944–present2001–20132008–20132013 G.W. Bush retirement

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

See also

References

  1. ↑ 28 U.S.C.   § 106.
  2. ↑ 28 U.S.C.   § 131.
  3. ↑ "Kurt Alme to serve as Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana" (Press release). U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana. March 17, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ U. S. District Court Judges, District of Montana, 1889 - 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
  6. ↑ "PN400-2 - Nomination of William W. Mercer for The Judiciary, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". www.congress.gov. July 15, 2025.

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