Jim Shea (judge)

James Jeremiah Shea (born April 13, 1966)[1] is an Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Steve Bullock.[2] He previously served as a Judge on the Montana Workers' Compensation Court.[3]

Jim Shea
Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
Assumed office
June 2, 2014
Appointed bySteve Bullock
Preceded byBrian Morris
Personal details
Born
James Jeremiah Shea

(1966-04-13) April 13, 1966
Butte, Montana, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Kathy
​
(m. 1989)​
Children2 daughters; Kate and Moira
EducationButte Central Catholic High School
Alma materUniversity of Montana
University of Montana School of Law

Shea graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1991 and started out as a law clerk for Chief Judge Paul G. Hatfield of the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Shea then worked as a trial attorney with the Metropolitan Public Defender in Portland, Oregon, before returning to Montana to practice mostly civil law.[2]

State court service

Shea was appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer to the Workers' Compensation Court in 2005 and was sworn into that position on September 7, 2005. He was reappointed to a second term in 2011. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was in private practice, most recently as a partner at the Missoula law firm of Paoli & Shea.[2]

Appointment to Montana Supreme Court

Governor Steve Bullock appointed Judge Shea to serve on the Montana Supreme Court. Shea replaced Judge Brian Morris, who was confirmed and commissioned as a United States District Court Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Montana in December 2013.[4][5] Shea's appointment was confirmed by the Montana State Senate by a vote of 41-9.[6] He was sworn in on June 2, 2014.[7] Shea ran unopposed in the 2016 election and was retained with 81.5 percent of the vote.[8]

Personal life

Shea was born and raised in Butte, Montana. He graduated from Butte Central Catholic High School. He and his wife Kathy met in college and married in 1989.[9] They have two daughters, Kate and Moira.[1]

References
  1. "James Jeremiah Shea". Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  2. Volz, Matt (5 May 2014). "Gov. Steve Bullock appoints Workers' Compensation Judge Jim Shea to Montana Supreme Court". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. "Workers Compensation Court".
  4. "Governor Bullock Appoints Judge Jim Shea to Montana Supreme Court" (PDF). NEWS RELEASE GOVERNOR STEVE BULLOCK STATE OF MONTANA. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  5. Misra, Charlie. "Gov. Bullock Appoints Jim Shea to State Supreme Court". Beartooth NBC. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  6. "Senate confirms Shea as Supreme Court justice". Billings Gazette. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  7. Johnson, Charles (June 2, 2014). "Shea sworn in as newest Montana Supreme Court justice". Missoulian. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  8. "Montana Supreme Court Retain Jim Shea Results: 'Yes' Wins". The New York Times. December 13, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  9. Judge Jim Shea for Montana Supreme Court
Legal offices
Preceded by
Brian Morris		 Associate Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
2014–present		 Incumbent
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