Retired judges return to courtroom

Two former District Dourt judges have returned to the bench to fill in for retired Flathead District Judge Ted O. Lympus.

Katherine R. Curtis and Stewart E. Stadler have stepped up to handle Lympus’ case load until Dec. 31, according to Flathead County District Court Administrator Marcy Hall.

Lympus stepped down Aug. 31 after holding the office for 27 years.

Curtis was the first female District Court judge elected in Flathead County. She served from 1994 until 2012.

Stadler served for 15 years as a justice of the peace before he was elected a District Court judge in 2000. He retired in 2012.

Applicants to fill Lympus’ position are being reviewed by the Judicial Nomination Commission, which will recommend finalists to Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

“The governor should, I believe, have an appointment by mid-November and that person has 30 days to get into office,” Hall said.

The appointee will serve the remainder of Lympus’ term, which  expires in 2018.

Reporter Megan Strickland may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.