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. 

Judicial Nomination Commission members are District Judge Richard Simonton of Glendive; Shirley Ball of Nashua; Mona Charles of Kalispell; Patrick Kelly of Miles City; Lane Larson of Billings; Ryan Rusche of Columbia Falls; and Nancy Zadick of Great Falls.