Interviews for Judge McKeon replacement Oct. 17

Havre Daily News staff

A commission soon will interview four Hi-Line attorneys who are interested in taking the place of a state district judge who is retiring next month after 22 years on the bench.

Judge John McKeon is retiring in November. He has jurisdiction over cases in the 17th Judicial District, which includes Blaine, Phillips and Valley counties.

The Judicial Nomination Commission will interview four applicants Monday, Oct. 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Phillips County Courthouse at 304 3rd Ave. West in Malta.

The applicants being interviewed are Randy Randolph of Havre, Yvonne Laird of Chinook, Peter Helland of Glasgow and Dan Raymond O’Brien of Malta.

Interviews will begin at 8:30 a.m. and deliberations will follow the last interview. The interviews and deliberations are open to the public. Because the public comment period has closed, public comment regarding the applicants will not be taken.

The commission will forward the names of at least three nominees to the governor for appointment. The person appointed by the governor is subject to Senate confirmation during the 2017 legislative session. If confirmed, the appointee will serve until January 2019.

Judicial Nomination Commission members are District Judge Richard Simonton of Glendive; Janice Bishop of Missoula; Karl Englund of Missoula; Elizabeth Halverson of Billings; Hal Harper of Helena; Lane Larson of Billings; and Nancy Zadick of Great Falls.