City Accepting Applicants for Municipal Court Judge - Municipal Court Department A
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: December 19, 2026
CONTACT: Lisa Kunz, City Clerk - 406-455-8451
Great Falls, Montana - The City Commission is seeking applicants for a Municipal Court Judge. The position is being vacated by Judge Steven Bolstad, who will be retiring on January 1, 2026. Interest forms and resumes are due to the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, and are available online at https://greatfallsmt.net or in the City Clerk and City Manager’s Offices in the Civic Center. The City Commission will interview the top candidates individually at an open meeting and anticipate having an appointment made by the end of January.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following requirements as outlined in Montana State Law:
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Be a U.S. citizen who has resided in Montana two years immediately before taking office (Montana Constitution Article VII Section 9);
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Be a resident of Cascade County for one year preceding appointment (MCA §3-6-202 & §3-10-204);
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Be admitted (and in good standing) to the practice of law in Montana for at least three years prior to the date of appointment (MCA §3-6-202).
The Municipal Court Judges are responsible for the management of the municipal court, maintaining a central docket of the court’s cases, as well as setting cases for jury trial. The Municipal Court Judges also supervise the court’s personnel (staff of seven) and are responsible for all administrative issues related to the court.
The salary of the Municipal Court Judge in Great Falls is set by City resolution. A Municipal Court Judge, serving a first or partial term in the City of Great Falls Municipal Court, will have a salary set at $119,859.75. The Judge is an elected official for the City of Great Falls and receives a competitive benefits package, which includes health, vision, dental, and life insurance and participation in Montana’s Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
The appointed applicant will serve until the next municipal general election, which will take place in November 2027. The term of this appointment will be approximately two years. The Official City Code (2.3.030) requires that, at the time of election, the Municipal Court Judge be a resident and voter in the City of Great Falls.
For more information, contact the City Clerk, Lisa Kunz, at 406-455-8451.
