Nominations for workers' comp judge sought

From Montana Supreme Court

Chief Justice Mike McGrath has notified the Judicial Nomination Commission that the term of office for the Hon. David Sandler, Workers’ Compensation judge, expires Sept. 7.

The commission is now accepting applications from any lawyer in good standing who has the qualifications set forth by law for holding the position of Workers’ Compensation Judge.

The application form is available electronically at http://courts.mt.gov. Applications must be submitted electronically as well as in hard copy. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m., Thursday, June 1. The commission will announce the names of the applicants thereafter.

The public is encouraged to contact commission members regarding the applicants during the public comment period, which will begin Friday, June 2, and close Monday, July 3.

The commission will forward the names of three to five nominees to the governor for appointment after reviewing the applications, receiving public comment, and interviewing the applicants if necessary. The person appointed by the governor will serve a six-year term subject to Senate confirmation at the next special or regular legislative session. The annual salary for the position will be $132,567.

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.