Resignation of judge snarls unresolved cases

The resignation of Lake County Justice of the Peace Chuck Wall may have thrown a wrench into a great number of pending cases.

Wall resigned Aug. 8 after settling two sexual harassment complaints filed by two court staff members with the Montana Human Rights Bureau.

According to Al Armagost, Wall’s sudden departure may affect a year and a half of back cases on which Wall did not make rulings, from civil cases that may need to be retried to criminal cases that may be dropped entirely.

Armagost went to court over a woman who allegedly damaged one of his rental units, and that case was tried before Wall in February 2011.

Wall resigned without ever making a decision in the case, and Armagost said he has been told by Lake County Chief Deputy Attorney Mark Russell that the case will have to start over.

Armagost said Russell told him the county attorney’s office tried to determine if Wall could be brought back long enough to make determinations in his remaining cases, but the Montana Supreme Court said that was not possible.

“The saying is ‘Don’t take the law into your own hands, take them to court,’” Armagost said. “Well, I took them to court and the justice system screwed me, so now what do I do?”

A special meeting of the Lake County commissioners is scheduled for 4 p.m. this afternoon to select an interim justice of the peace to take Wall’s place.

Russell did not return several messages left at his office.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.