Two from Kalispell seek high court post

HELENA (AP) — A panel that will recommend a replacement for former Montana Supreme Court Justice Brian Morris is seeking public comment on the 15 attorneys who applied for the appointment.

The seven-member Judicial Nomination Commission is taking public comment through March 19. After that, the commission has 30 days to forward the names of three to five nominees to Gov. Steve Bullock, who will choose a replacement.

Morris resigned from the Supreme Court to become a U.S. District Judge in Great Falls.

Two of the applicants are from Kalispell: Flathead District Judge David Ortley and private-practice attorney Amy Poehling Eddy.

Other applicants are:

James Shea, Worker’s Compensation Court judge in Helena; Randi Hood of Helena and Edmund Sheehy Jr. of Missoula, assistant public defenders; Michael Black, the Civil Services Bureau Chief in the attorney general’s office; Deborah Butler, an attorney with the Legislative Audit Division; and Michael McCabe, who last worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Private practice applicants include Jacqueline Lenmark, K. Paul Stahl and Erik Thueson of Helena; Carlo Canty of Montana City; Elizabeth Brennan and Jon Ellingson of Missoula; and Patrick Watt of Great Falls.

For more information, go online to http://courts.mt.gov/supreme/boards/jud_nomination/default.mcpx.