Ingrid Gustafson
Ingrid Gustafson | |
---|---|
Justice of the Montana Supreme Court | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 2018 | |
Appointed by | Steve Bullock |
Preceded by | Mike Wheat |
Personal details | |
Born | (1961-12-11) December 11, 1961 (age 62) Laramie, Wyoming, U.S. |
Education | Montana State University (BS) University of Montana (JD) |
Ingrid G. Gustafson (born December 11, 1961)[1] is an associate justice of the Montana Supreme Court. She was appointed in December 2017 by Governor Steve Bullock to fill the seat of retiring Justice Mike Wheat.[2] She ran unopposed in 2018 for the remainder of Wheat's term. In 2022, Gustafson ran against James Brown, winning an eight year term.
History
Gustafson was born in Wyoming and moved to Montana in 1972.[1] She attended Montana State University on a skiing scholarship and graduated with honors in 1983.[1] She was named to the MSU Hall of Fame for her skiing accomplishments in college.[3] Gustafson obtained her law degree from the University of Montana Law School in 1988, again with honors.[4]
Gustafson worked as a staff attorney for the Social Security Administration for two years,[1] and entered private practice in 1991. In that period, she also was a public defender in Rosebud County, Montana. From 1996 until 2004 she was a managing partner at the law firm Graves, Toennis and Gustafson in Billings, Montana.[1]
Gustafson was appointed as District Judge of Montana's 13th Judicial District by former Governor Judy Martz, and took the bench in 2004.[1] She succeeded retiring District Judge and former Montana Supreme Court justice Diane Barz.[1] She was re-elected to the bench in 2004, 2006 and 2012.[2][4] Gustafson helped create Yellowstone County's drug court in 2010.[5] This was Montana's first felony drug court.[6]
In 2017, she became the first justice appointed to the Montana Supreme Court rather than elected. She was chosen by Governor Bullock to replace Mike Wheat who retired effective December 31.[2] She then ran unopposed in 2018.[7] That election was for the remaining four years of Wheat's term.[8]
In 2022, Gustafson ran a costly campaign against James Brown, a Helena based attorney. The race ended up as having the most money ever spent in a Montana Supreme Court race.[9] Even though the election is non-partisan, special interest groups spent a significant amount of money on the race.[7] Montana Free Press reported $3 million spent by outside groups.[7] Montana Republican leaders supported Brown early in his campaign, setting the stage for an election with partisanship overtones.[10] Gustafson won with 53% of the votes.
As of 2024, she is Vice President of the Montana Judges Association.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Johnson, Charles S. (November 21, 2003). "Gustafson named to court seat by Martz". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Tollefson, Phoebe. "Billings judge Ingrid Gustafson named to Montana Supreme Court". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Gustafson, Ingrid". Montana State Un. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Justice Ingrid Gustafson". Montana Judicial Branch. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Staff, ED KEMMICK Of The Gazette. "Judge Gustafson to launch adult drug court". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ "Election Guide '22 Ingid Gustafson". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Silvers, Mara (November 9, 2022). "Gustafson retains state Supreme Court seat over challenger Brown". Montana Free Press. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (September 30, 2018). "Montana Supreme Court justices Baker, Gustafson seeking another term". KTVH. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Ingrid Gustafson reflects on high-dollar, hard-fought Montana Supreme Court race". KTVQ. November 10, 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Nerbovig, Ashley (October 25, 2022). "Race for Montana Supreme Court Justice 2 generates spending, partisanship". KTVH. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
External links
- Ingrid Gustafson at Ballotpedia
Legal offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Justice of the Montana Supreme Court 2018–present | Incumbent |
- v
- t
- e
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Great_Seal_of_Montana.svg/90px-Great_Seal_of_Montana.svg.png)
- Jason Ellsworth, President
- Kenneth Bogner, President pro tempore
- Steve Fitzpatrick, Majority Leader
- Pat Flowers, Minority Leader
- Matt Regier, Speaker
- Rhonda Knudsen, Speaker pro tempore
- Sue Vinton, Majority Leader
- Kim Abbott, Minority Leader
- Mike McGrath, Chief Justice
- Laurie McKinnon
- James Rice
- Beth Baker
- Jim Shea
- Dirk Sandefur
- Ingrid Gustafson, Associate Justices
- Bowen Greenwood, Clerk