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Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced an advisory council made up of local city and county officials to assist in identifying and reviewing qualified candidates to fill the Eighth Judicial District court judge vacancy.
This comes in the wake of the Montana State Senate voting against the confirmation of Michele Levine as a Cascade County District Judge in April. It was the first time in 50 years the Senate has declined to confirm an interim judge.
Members of the council include prominent members of the community, including former Great Falls Police Chief David Bowen and former judge for the Eighth Judicial District Greg Pinski, who left the bench in December and whose vacancy Levine filled. Gianforte will announce his appointment in July, according to the release. Whoever is selected will be required to run for election in the 2022 election.