Judicial Nomination Commission
of the
State of Montana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 29, 2014
TO: All media organizations
FROM: Beth McLaughlin
Montana Supreme Court, Office of Court Administrator
(406) 841-2966; bmclaughlin@mt.gov
SUBJECT: Nominees for Workers’ Compensation Court Judgeship
The Judicial Nomination Commission met by conference call today to review the applications for judge for the Workers’ Compensation Court. The Commission also reviewed comments from the public regarding the applicants. Members unanimously voted to submit the names of William Dean Blackaby (Helena), Kay Lynn Lee (Kalispell), and David Michael Sandler (Kalispell) to Governor Steve Bullock for his consideration. A fourth applicant, William O. Bronson (Great Falls), withdrew his application.
The governor has 30 days from receipt of the list of nominees to fill the position. The governor’s appointee is subject to Senate confirmation. If confirmed, the appointee will serve for the remainder of the vacated term, which expires in September 2017, and is eligible for reappointment to a full six-year term. The annual salary for the position is $117,600.