Mineral County has been our home since 2002 and the chosen place to raise my family. My dedication to our local judicial system began as a clerk. I returned in 2014 to serve as clerk and sub-judge. I was honored to be elected Justice of the Peace in 2023. I have learned much throughout my tenure and continue to value our community. I look forward to serving Mineral County with integrity and commitment for many years.

When the law seems clear but the outcome feels harsh, how do you approach the decision?

As a Justice of the Peace, I am required to follow the laws even if they seem harsh or if I disagree with the law.  I cannot substitute my own ideas as to what the law should be. I must ensure that both the Montana Constitution and the United States Constitution are followed.  As a judge my goal is to prioritize public safety, hold the offender accountable, and encourage rehabilitation and prevent recidivism without causing unnecessary hardship and to look at alternatives when possible.

What are your solutions on non-English reading/speaking CDL operators on I-90 involved in accidents?

The law is clear when it comes to individuals who possess a CDL but are unable to read / speak English – 49 Commercial Federal Regulation 391.11B2 states -  Can read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.

If an individual cannot meet this criterion, they are placed out of service by law enforcement to ensure the public’s safety. I believe this policy will continue to protect the public from future accidents.

If you believed a search warrant request was weak but coming from a respected officer, what would you do?

When reviewing a search warrant application, I look to ensure that there are facts to support the officer’s request.  Do the facts support probable cause that a crime has been committed? Are the facts sufficient to support probable cause that the evidence etc. will be found where indicated specifically the place, object or person(s) to be searched and does the application describe who or what is to be seized?

If all of these criteria are met, then the search warrant would be granted. If any of these facts are not present, then the search warrant is denied regardless of officer.

How would you prepare yourself for legal questions or cases outside your experience?

When preparing for cases or legal questions, especially those outside my experience, I start with researching all case law that pertains to the legal question, I check Montana case law as well as federal case law. I also review the Montana Code Annotated and Montana Code Annotated Annotations. I also reach out to other judges in Montana who have dealt with similar situations.  When a complex question arises, I have taken the question under advisement to research it further and come back with my decision or ruling at a later time.

Describe your process for making a difficult ruling when facts are disputed.

First determine if the case falls within my jurisdiction. I would review the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) or other case law to determine the elements of the crime. I would then review all facts and evidence to determine what happened and what was presented.  As the trier of facts, I would weigh the credibility of the witness or facts presented and apply the reasonable doubt standard for criminal matters and preponderance of the evidence in civil matters the civil standard only requires that the evidence shows it is more likely than not that a party is liable.

How would you ensure that people representing themselves understand the court process?

To ensure that self-represented or pro-se individuals understand the court process, I review their rights in detail during their entry of plea, we provide them with handouts that explain how court processes or trials proceed.  In addition, we advise them to contact the Self-Help Law Center or the MontanaLawHelp.org website for additional resources. I explain to them that they are expected to file documents and provide discovery just like any other party to ensure no misunderstandings.

What challenges are unique to administering justice in a rural community?

There are many challenges when it comes to administering justice. The residents of Mineral County must travel further distances to go to court; we have fewer attorneys in the area and fewer resources for individuals needing treatment or other services.  Our residents are called to serve more often on jury trials due to having fewer individuals to pull from, this can impact the impartiality of jurors as many of the residents from rural communities are likely to know the parties.  These can all affect the administration of justice not only for defendants but the residence of Mineral County as well.

How should courts handle people who cannot afford fines or travel long distances to court?

The Court currently allows individuals to appear by ZOOM for all hearings except initial appearance / entry of plea, jury confirmation and trial. The Court recognizes the difficulty individuals may experience and works with them to reschedule court hearings when appropriate. The Montana Supreme Court has held that a person’s ability to pay must be considered when sentencing so as not to impose fines that are beyond the individual’s ability to pay, the Court must consider the person’s financial resources. The Court also allows for community service to assist those individuals who may need additional financial assistance.