Alley files for Hill County Attorney

Havre Daily News staff

A local attorney already serving in the Hill County attorney's office announced Thursday she is running for the top job in that office.

Karen Alley, a deputy Hill County attorney, filed as a Democrat for Hill County Attorney Thursday.

Incumbent Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson, who was appointed in November 2016 to take the place of Gina Dahl, who resigned to take a job in Billings, had not filed as a candidate as of this morning.

Alley has had experience in most sides of the court, including civil law, criminal defense and criminal prosecution.

She has lived in Havre since September 2011. She moved here after receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana School of Law in Missoula in May 2011, along with her certificate in alternative dispute resolution.

While in law school, she worked as a mediator in the Missoula County Justice Court and in the Fourth Judicial District, Missoula County. For her work in mediation, she received the Carole Mitchell Award for demonstrating excellent understanding of mediation. She also received the Paul Raftery Memorial Graduation Award for her dedication and diligence in her clinical work while at the law school.

Alley began her legal career in Havre with Lorang Law PC, representing clients in family law matters, estates and probate, and small claims. Additionally, while at Lorang Law she contracted with the Office of the Public Defender, representing clients in criminal matters and dependency and neglect proceedings.

In 2015, Alley began employment as a full-time staff attorney with the Office of the Public Defender and in July 2017 moved over to the Hill County Attorney's Office.

Alley is originally from Townsend. She attended Montana State University-Billings, receiving a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in May 2002. She then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated from Boston University School of Theology in 2005 with a Master in Divinity.