Mike McGrath
| Mike McGrath | |
 | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| Montana Supreme Court | |
| Title: | Chief Justice |
| Service: | |
| Active: | 2009-2016 |
| Preceded by: | Karla Gray |
| Past position: | Attorney General of Montana |
| Past term: | 2000-2008 |
| Personal History | |
| Undergraduate: | University of Montana, 1970 |
| Law School: | Gonzaga University Law School, 1975 |
| Military service: | United States Air Force |
Contents |
Mike McGrath is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Montana. He was elected in 2008 and his current term ends in 2016.
Education
McGrath earned a B.A. in business administration from the University of Montana in 1970 and his J.D. from Gonzaga University Law School in 1975.[1]
Career
After receiving his undergraduate degree, McGrath joined the United States Air Force, where he served until 1972. Next he became a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer in Reno, Nevada. He served in this capactity until becoming Assistant Attorney General for Montana in 1976. In 1982, he became the County Attorney for Lewis and Clark County, a position he was elected to five times. From there, he was elected Attorney General of Montana, a position he served until his election to the Montana Supreme Court.[2][1]
2008 General election results
On November 4, McGrath defeated Helena lawyer Ron Waterman, winning 75% of the vote. [3]
Declines to investigate Gov. Schweitzer
In July 2008, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer gave a speech in Philadephia to the American Association for Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, during which he said that he tampered with the 2006 U.S. Senate election in Montana to help Democrat Jon Tester win. When the text of his remarks surfaced September 3, 2008, the state and then national media covered the story. Schweitzer eventually said that the remarks had been meant as a joke.[4]
A conservative columnist in Montana asked McGrath, as Montana's attorney general, to investigate, but McGrath declined. In response, Erik Iverson, the chair of the Montana Republican Party, alleged that McGrath had refused to investigate "without so much as even lifting a finger in an effort to ascertain the facts." The U.S. attorney's office is reviewing Schweitzer's comments to see if a federal investigation is warranted. [5]
See also
- News: Chief Justice McGrath to appoint one of five applicants to new water court position, May 6, 2012
External links
- Montana Courts, Chief Justice Mike McGrath
- Project Vote Smart, Chief Justice Mike McGrath (MT)
- Ballotpedia, Mike McGrath
- Progressive States Network, "MT: Attorney General goes to bat for hard working state employees", August 23, 2006
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Project Vote Smart, Chief Justice Mike McGrath (MT)
- ↑ Montana Courts, Chief Justice Mike McGrath
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, 2008 General Election Results
- ↑ The New York Times, "Montana Officials Chastise Governor Over Boasts in Speech to Lawyers’ Group", September 11, 2008
- ↑ KULR 8 TV, "No investigation on Schweitzer tampering claims", September 11, 2008
