Attorney files for embattled judge's seat in 20th Judicial District
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 7 months AGO
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at weekly newspapers, beginning at the Mission Valley News in 1981, then at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Lake County Leader until 1993. She launched and co-published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly, before returning to the Leader in 2022, and serving as its editor until July 2026. Reach her at [email protected] | February 16, 2024 11:00 PM
Local attorney Britt Cotter filed last week for the Lake and Sanders counties District Court seat held by embattled Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher.
Christopher, who has held that post since 2000, is facing a complaint filed by the Judicial Standards Commission, asking the Montana Supreme Court to discipline the her for missing too much work without covering her docket and failing to diligently perform her duties.
Additionally, the state Department of Public Health and Human Services has asked the Supreme Court to disqualify her from a case.
The complaint filed Jan. 16 by attorney Amy Christensen on behalf of the Judicial Standards Commission alleged that the judge “failed to diligently perform her judicial and administrative duties.” It asserted that Christopher cancelled up to 19 law and motion days in 2021, and as many as 11 in 2022 – not including the 14 days covered by retired judges for medical reasons during an absence of almost three months – and that she “failed to timely and adequately” arrange for coverage.
Her handling of a child custody case last fall, in which she abruptly removed a 5 year old from his mother’s care and turned the child over to his father in Oregon, resulted in the Montana Supreme Court removing her from the case and shifting jurisdiction to Judge Molly Owen.
Earlier this month, the Daily Montanan published an extensive story about recent allegations against the judge. According to the article, attorney Lance Jasper has filed a judicial misconduct complaint regarding Christopher with the Judicial Standards Commission, and has referred the custody hearing on Sept. 11 to law enforcement to investigate for possible destruction of evidence and witness tampering. Jasper, along with Spencer MacDonald, is now representing the mother in the custody case.
Cotter is a Polson attorney. According to his website, he graduated from Gonzaga Law and has been practicing since 2005 as both a county prosecutor and public defender. According to the Secretary of State’s website, Christopher had not filed for office as of Feb. 13.
ARTICLES BY KRISTI NIEMEYER
Campaign season revs up as general election nears
In case voters haven’t noticed the campaign signs sprouting across Lake County, election season is in full swing.
Ceremonial dink celebrates groundbreaking for new Polson pickleball courts
Sparkling cider and champagne were on hand last Wednesday, Sept. 9, as a crowd of about 40 pickleball players gathered at O’Malley Park in Polson to celebrate the groundbreaking on three new courts with a ceremonial “first dink” over an improvised net.
Ceremonial "dink" celebrates groundbreaking for new Polson pickleball courts
Sparkling cider and champagne were on hand last Wednesday, Sept. 9, as a crowd of about 40 pickleball players gathered at O’Malley Park in Polson to celebrate the groundbreaking on three new courts with a ceremonial “first dink” over an improvised net.