Mike McGrath
Mike McGrath | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of theMontana Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Karla M. Gray |
| 22ndAttorney General of Montana | |
| In office January 5, 2001 – January 5, 2009 | |
| Governor | Judy Martz Brian Schweitzer |
| Preceded by | Joseph Mazurek |
| Succeeded by | Steve Bullock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1947 Butte, Montana,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Montana, Missoula(BA) Gonzaga University(JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1970–1972 |
Michael McGrath(born August 22, 1947) is an American lawyer and judge who has served as the chief justice of theMontana Supreme Courtsince 2009. He also served as theAttorney General of Montanafrom 2000 to 2008.[1]He is a veteran of theUnited States Air Force.
Early life and education
[edit]A native ofButte, Montana,McGrath graduated from theUniversity of Montanawith aBachelor of Artsin business administration in 1970.[2]Then he served in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1972.[2]He went on to earn hisJuris DoctorfromGonzaga University School of Lawin 1975.[1]He is the recipient of the 2021 Gonzaga Law Medal.[3]
Legal career
[edit]McGrath worked inReno, Nevadaas a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow from 1975 to 1976.[1]He became Montana's Assistant Attorney General in 1977 and served until 1982.[4]
He served asCounty AttorneyforLewis and Clark Countyfor five terms spanning 1982 to 2000.[1]In his eighteen years as a prosecutor, McGrath focused on family violence issues, includingdomestic abuseandsexual assault of children.He ran an unsuccessful campaign againstMarc Racicotfor Attorney General in 1988.[4]
McGrath defeatedJim Ricefor Montana Attorney General in 2000.[4]He won a second term in 2004.[1]As Attorney General, he focused onmethamphetamineprevention and natural resource and land issues.[4]In 2005, Montana was ranked as fifth worst for meth abuse among US states.[5]
McGrath campaigned against Ron Waterman for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court in 2008.[6]He took office in January 2009 on the seat vacated byKarla Gray.He ran unopposed in 2016 for another eight year term. McGrath stated he would not run for re-election in 2024.[6]
Besides his legal career, McGrath ran forGovernor of Montanain1992.[4]He lost in theDemocraticprimary to formerState RepresentativeDorothy Bradley.
He is a former chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General and served as president of the Montana County Attorneys' Association.
Personal life
[edit]He and his wife Joy have two sons and five grandchildren.[3]
References
[edit]- ^abcde"Chief Justice Mike McGrath".Montana Judicial Branch.Retrieved13 June2024.
- ^ab"Biographies and Histories of Montana's Justices, Judges, and Courts"(PDF).State Law Library of Montana.Retrieved13 June2024.
- ^abEhrlick, Darrell (June 14, 2021)."Chief Justice gets top award from Gonzaga Law School".Daily Montanan.Retrieved13 June2024.
- ^abcdeJohnson, Charles S. (September 25, 2003)."McGrath seeks re-election as AG".Billings Gazette.Retrieved14 June2024.
- ^Catalytic PhilanthropyArchivedJanuary 4, 2010, at theWayback Machine,Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2009
- ^abKimbel-Sannit, Arren (June 7, 2023)."Neither Chief Justice Mike McGrath nor Justice Dirk Sandefur will seek re-election to Montana Supreme Court in 2024".Retrieved14 June2024.
Statewide political officials ofMontana | ||
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