HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced he is accepting applications and nominations to fill a vacancy on the Flathead County District Court that will arise after the Nov. 2026 election.
Why a vacancy will occur
Two sitting Flathead County District Court judges, Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson, are on the ballot this November in a contest for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court, which is being vacated by the retirement of Justice Beth Baker. Whichever of the two district judges prevails in the Supreme Court race will leave an open judgeship at the district level.
How to apply
Gianforte’s announcement directs interested attorneys to submit applications electronically through the state’s judicial nomination portal at nominatejudges.mt.gov. Applications must be filed both electronically and in hard copy.
| Deadline or Period | Date |
|---|---|
| Application filing deadline | Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. |
| Public comment period | Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 – Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 |
The application materials will be made available to the public, and beginning Sept. 30 the portal will accept letters of support or other comments about applicants during the monthlong public comment window.
Minimum support required
According to the governor’s office, an applicant must receive at least three letters of support to be considered for an appointment.
- Application submitted electronically and in hard copy
- Applicants must be lawyers in good standing
- At least three letters of support required to be eligible for appointment
Public interest and local impact
The district court in Flathead County, which serves the county seat of Kalispell and surrounding communities, handles a broad docket of criminal, civil, family and probate matters. A judicial vacancy there could affect case scheduling and the speed with which matters move through the local justice system, particularly if the seat remains open for an extended period while the appointment and confirmation process unfolds.
Because the announcement follows the potential elevation of two sitting judges who are already familiar with the district’s caseload, the appointed replacement will join a bench undergoing transition at a time when continuity and experience are valuable to court operations and litigants.
Transparency and public participation
The governor’s use of an online portal to publish applications and gather public comment is part of an effort to keep the selection process visible. The public comment period — from Sept. 30 to Oct. 30 — gives residents, attorneys and community organizations an opportunity to weigh in on candidates’ qualifications.
While the governor's office will consider public letters and the required letters of support, the announcement did not specify the timeline for any interviews, the appointment date or whether a commission will provide recommendations first. Those details are often determined as part of the broader judicial selection process and may be announced separately.
What applicants and the public should know
Attorneys interested in the temporary appointment should review and complete the electronic application at nominatejudges.mt.gov and ensure they submit a hard-copy version by the 5 p.m. Sept. 29 deadline. Members of the public who wish to submit commentary or letters of support should plan to use the same portal during the public comment window that begins Sept. 30.
The appointee will serve for the remainder of the departing judge’s term. Additional details about the exact length of the term to be filled will be available once the successful Supreme Court candidate creates the vacancy by winning the Nov. election.
This selection marks the next step in the personnel changes tied to the upcoming Supreme Court contest and will be watched closely by legal practitioners and residents across the Flathead Valley.
Travis Wheeler is the WE NEWS state correspondent covering the judiciary, state government and legal affairs.
