Gianforte appoints Thomas Pardy to Thirteenth Judicial District Court
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Monday his appointment of Thomas Pardy to serve on the Thirteenth Judicial District for Yellowstone County. Pardy will fill the vacancy created by Thirteenth Judicial District Judge Michael G. Moses’ retirement, effective July 1, 2023, according to a news release from the Governor’s Office.
“Thomas is an accomplished attorney who is committed to the fair, consistent, and objective application of the law and who will interpret laws, not make them from the bench,” Gov. Gianforte said in a statement. “I look forward to his service to the people of Yellowstone County on the Thirteenth Judicial District Court.”
Pardy graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1998. Pardy has run his own practice, Pardy Law Firm, P.C., for eight years, and served as Billings deputy city attorney since 2015, according to the Governor’s Office.
A series of letter praising Pardy discuss his military background and respectful demeanor, and they describe him as a conservative and a constitutional conservative.
On May 12, Gianforte announced an advisory council of attorneys and community leaders in Yellowstone County to assist in identifying and reviewing qualified candidates to fill the district court judge vacancy in the Thirteenth Judicial District, the news release said.
“I thank the members of advisory council for serving their community and giving their time to review and recommend highly qualified nominees to serve as the new district court judge,” the governor said in the news release.
On Feb. 24, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Montana notified the governor of the vacancy in the Thirteenth Judicial District, and on March 6, the governor began soliciting applications. The application period closed on April 5, and the next day, the governor initiated the 30-day public comment period for the four applicants, which continued through May 5.
During that period, the public had the opportunity to provide letters of support or other comments regarding the applicants. Applicants must receive at least three letters of support to be considered for appointment by the governor.
On May 18, the advisory council held a public meeting to consider applicants and review Montanans’ public comments, the news release said. The advisory council forwarded two nominees to the governor, and the governor interviewed both candidates, according to the news release.