Judge Perry Miller retires after decades of service

Hundreds gathered at the Blaine County Fairgrounds Sunday to bid a professional farewell to Blaine County Justice of the Peace Judge Perry Miller, who is retiring after 29 years of service.

For over an hour, fellow judges, law enforcement officers, family members and friends spoke about Miller and the profound effect he had on them, the community and the state, as a judge, a football and wrestling coach, and a person.

Hill County Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger said practically every member of the judicial branch there that day was trained by Miller at some point and practically everyone still calls him looking for advice, adding that his support has been invaluable to everyone, her included.

"He always had my back, and always went to war for me," Barger said.

Havre City Judge Janie Hedstrom said when she felt bad about having to expose her colleagues to a messy situation, Miller included, she felt like "my halo is gone."

"It's not gone," she said Miller told her, "It's just a little crooked."

She said his reassurance was invaluable and helped her continue.

Twelfth Judicial District Court Judge Kaydee Snipes Ruiz also spoke, saying she was honored to have Miller as a mentor and colleague.

But Miller's judicial accolades didn't just come from the Hi-Line, judges from around the state were in attendance and many who couldn't come sent letters thanking him for his mentorship, and what a profound effect his advice had on their careers.

Fergus County Justice of the Peace Kelly Mantooth said Miller has trained countless new judges and delivered some of the best advice they would ever hear.

Mantooth said he would tell the up and coming judges, "when you become a judge, you trade in your scepter for a toilet plunger."

Numerous judges at the event said they remember those words and they proved true again and again as they tried their best to clean up messes as best they could, and if they were ever worried about something he was a phone call away.

"It was almost like he was reaching through the phone and putting his arm around you," Mantooth said.

Great Falls Municipal Court Judge Steven Bolstad said Miller's positive influence over the judiciary extends to the entire state, even if some of it is less visible, and he's a credit to his community and Montana.

"Montana is the Treasure State," Bolstad said, "Perry is a treasure to the entire state of Montana, whether you know it or not."

Flathead District Court Judge Dan Wilson said Miller is a great man and an example demonstrating the need for Montana to continue its tradition of allowing non-attorney judges.

He said Montana is one of the few states that does this and has kept the tradition going despite the occasional challenges, and Miller is an example of why the practice must continue.

While judges mostly spoke about the influence Miller had on them, others talked about more lighthearted moments that they remember fondly.

Blaine County Attorney Kelsie Harwood said it has been a pleasure to work with Miller for so much of her career, but looking back on some cases she's often glad Blaine County is not a court of record where every word is recorded.

She said she remembers a moment when Miller was dealing with a repeat offender who was really giving him a hard time and Miller told them "If bull**** were music, you'd be the goddamn philharmonic."

The line prompted laughter from the crowd.

But Chinook Police Chief Elmer Zarn said Miller was, above all, a fair man to everyone and was understanding when circumstances merited it.

Zarn said he remembers pulling Miller over well before he became a judge, for speeding.

He said Miller told him he was late for work at the railroad, and they had a new policy that if you were late you would be sent home.

"Get out of here and don't let me catch you again, I told him," Zarn said.

He said that was the kind of understanding Miller would later bring to his career as a judge, always fair to people especially when the circumstances they found themselves in weren't fair.

Former Chinook Chief of Police Mark Weber said the same thing, that Miller was a reasonable man, even to repeat offenders, as long as they were honest with him.

Despite this Weber said, Miller took his job and the integrity of the court very seriously.

Sometimes applying for warrants and testifying in court can become just another part of the job, Weber said, but whenever he had to go to Miller and swear to the honesty of his testimony or the information in those applications he was reminded how serious that commitment is, because Miller was that kind of man.

Blaine County Chief Deputy Sheriff Levi Gonzalez said he remembers thinking he was hot stuff when he issued his first speeding citation, to a woman who tried to throw him off by producing her Chicago law enforcement identification along with her license.

When Miller came up to him with the citation, Gonzalez said, he gave him a big sidehug before lovingly pointing out to him that he'd put the woman's license expiration date in place of her date of birth.

He said that was a formative moment and taught him how seriously he needs to take the job, including the details.

Many of Miller's children also spoke, thanking him for everything he taught them and the support he gave to their own families over the years.

They talked about how he always encouraged them to work hard and never give up, and how he helped them do that, how he was always an incredible and aspirational presence in their lives.

Other members of the community spoke as well, recounting tales of his time as a sports coach and as a person.

Longtime sports radio announcer Ron Bruschi said he could tell so many stories about Miller and his halftime speeches, but the truth is that he has been an integral part of the community day after day.

Miller is the man who told him his license would be taken due to an unpaid speeding ticket, but also the man who married him and his wife, he said tearfully.

At the end of the speeches, Mantooth presented Miller a plaque commemorating his decades of service, signed by all the justices of the Montana Supreme Court.

"Your dedication, hard work, and selfless commitment as a member of the Commission of the Courts of Limited Jurisdiction has bettered the Montana judiciary," Mantooth said, reading from the plaque.

Miller's address to the crowd was brief, but emotional, as were many of the speeches that day.

"It's never been about me and it still isn't about me, it's about you," he said. "You all made me able to do the job without reservation. ... I do love you all, and I would go to hell with a bucket of ice cubes for each and every one of you. Thank you for a good ride."