Montana Supreme Court
Judicial Nomination Commission
Elizabeth Brennan
P.O. Box 7245
Missoula, MT 59807
Appointed by: Supreme Court Shirley Ball
Nashua, MT 59248
Appointed by: Governor Janice Ostermiller
3154 Marguerite Blvd.
Billings, MT 59102
Appointed by: Governor Monica Paoli
106 Crestline Drive
Missoula, MT 59803
Appointed by: Governor
Hon. Ted O. Lympus
920 S. Main
Kalispell, MT 59901
Elected by: District Court Judges Paul Tuss
13 Spruce Drive
Havre, MT 59501
Appointed by: GovernorMartha Sheehy
P.O. Box 584
Billings, MT 59103
Appointed by: Supreme Court
Term:4 Years
4 - Lay members appointed by governor
1 - Elected by the district judges
2 - Appointed by the Montana Supreme Court
Composed of: seven members, four lay members from different geographical areas of the state who are appointed by the
Governor; two attorneys appointed by the Supreme Court (one from that part of the state that is composed of judicial
districts 1 through 5, 9, 11, and 18 through 21; and one from that part of the state that is composed of judicial districts
6 through 8, 10, and 12 through 17); and one district judge who is elected by the district judges. Commission members serve
a four-year term and are not eligible for nomination to a judicial office during their term on the commission or for one year thereafter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:March 17, 2006
To: All Montana media
From: Beth Brennan, Judicial Nomination Commission secretary
406-721-6768
Subject: Five Apply to Be Appointed Judge in Missoula
The Judicial Nomination Commission has received applications from five Missoula lawyers for appointment by Gov. Schweitzer to replace Judge John S. Henson of Missoula’s Fourth Judicial District. Judge Henson has submitted his resignation, effective March 31, 2006. The five applicants are John Bulger, Dusty Deschamps, Brenda Desmond, Cynthia Smith and Karen Townsend. The Judicial Nomination Commission will accept public comment on the applicants through Monday, April 17, 2006. All five applications will be posted for public review early next week on the State Law Library website, www.lawlibrary.state.mt.us. If any media organizations need the applications sooner, please request electronic copies from Beth Brennan at BABrennan@montanadsl.net.
The Judicial Nomination Commission is required by law to submit three to five names to the governor for his consideration and appointment. The Commission will interview the applicants, review their applications and public comment, and may investigate the candidates. Interviews will be held in Missoula in early May, although the exact date has not yet been determined. The appointment extends through the end of 2006, after which the winner of the November 2006 election for Judge Henson’s seat will take office. As of today, applicants John Bulger, Brenda Desmond, and Cynthia Smith have filed for the primary. The deadline for filing is March 23, 2006.
Judicial Nomination Commission members are District Judge Ted Lympus of Kalispell; Beth Brennan of Missoula; Jack Galt of Martinsdale; Jan Ostermiller of Billings; Monica Paoli of Missoula; Martha Sheehy of Billings; and Paul Tuss of Havre. Public comment may be submitted to any of the seven commissioners, or to Commission Secretary Beth Brennan, P.O. Box 7245, Missoula, MT 59807, BABrennan@montanadsl.net.
Applications for the five lawyers who have applied to replace Judge Henson, in the 4th Judicial District:
