Judicial Nomination Commission
of the
State of Montana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:          June 23, 2014

TO:              All media organizations

FROM:         Beth McLaughlin, Office of Court Administrator
(406) 841-2966 - bmclaughlin@mt.gov

SUBJECT:    Public Comment Sought on Workers’ Compensation Court Applicants

In May, the Judicial Nomination Commission began accepting applications for the vacant position of Workers’ Compensation Court judge.  The position was vacated by Judge Jim Shea who resigned to accept appointment to the Montana Supreme Court.

The Commission received applications from the following attorneys:

  • William Dean Blackaby
  • William O. Bronson
  • Kay Lynn Lee
  • David Michael Sandler

The Commission is now soliciting public comment on the applicants.  The applications may be viewed through a link available at http://www.courts.mt.gov.  Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

The Commission welcomes public comment, either in writing (e-mail or paper) or via telephone. These comments, which become part of an applicant’s file, will be posted on the Commission’s web page and forwarded to the Governor. Public comment may be submitted to any commissioner or to:
Judicial Nomination Commission
c/o Lois Menzies
Office of Court Administrator
P.O. Box 203005
Helena, MT  59620-3005
lmenzies@mt.gov

The Commission will forward the names of at least three nominees to the Governor for appointment after reviewing the applications and public comment and interviewing the applicants, if necessary.  The Governor’s appointee is subject to Senate confirmation.  If confirmed, the appointee will serve for the remainder of the term, which expires in September 2017, and is eligible for reappointment to a six-year term. 

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.