The State Bar of Montana was created in 1974 by order of the Montana Supreme Court and comprises over 4,000 attorneys who maintain an active license to practice law in Montana. We are governed by 16 trustees, elected by region, and four officers who are elected on a statewide basis. The State Bar receives no state-appropriated funding.

Our Vision

A trusted and independent legal system that safeguards individual liberties, ensures access to justice, and serves as a pillar of democracy for this and future generations.

Our Mission 

We promotes the highest standards of professionalism and competence in the practice of law to foster an accessible, fair, and independent legal system and to preserve the rule of law.

Learn More about the Constitution of the State Bar of Montana

Elected Leadership

Photo of Aislinn W. Brown
President
Aislinn W. Brown, Helena
Photo of Albert R. (Rich) Batterman
President-Elect
Albert R. (Rich) Batterman, Baker
Photo of Erica R. Grinde
Secretary-Treasurer
Erica R. Grinde, Missoula
Photo of Antoinette M. Tease
Immediate Past President
Antoinette M. Tease, Billings
Photo of Anna M. Kecskés
Chair of the Board
Anna M. Kecskés, Helena

Board of Trustees

Area A
Ryan G. Hennen, Whitefish
Area B
Beth Hayes, Missoula
Dana L. Hupp, Missoula
Natasha P. Jones, Missoula
Area C
Kaylan C. Minor, Dillon
Area D
Anthony Gallagher, Great Falls
Claire Lettow, Great Falls
Area E
Beth A. Carmain, Miles City
Area F
Craig D. Charlton, Helena
Anna M. Kecskés, Helena
Deanna L. Rothwell, Helena
Area G
Sherine D. Blackford, Bozeman
Matthew A. Haus, Bozeman
Area H
Shane P. Coleman, Billings
Eli J. Patten, Billings
Michelle Sullivan, Billings

Delegates to the American Bar Association

Michael Klepperich,
ABA Delegate - Young Lawyer's Division
Matthew Thiel,
ABA Delegate - State of Montana
Tucker Gannett,
ABA Delegate - State Bar of Montana

Past Presidents

1975-76 Marshall Murray
1976-77 Tom Mahan
1977-78 Bruce Toole
1978-79 Ted Thompson
1979-80 Maury Ormseth
1980-81 Bob Corette
1981-82 Alex George
1982-83 Ward Shanahan
1983-84 Sandy McCracken
1984-85 Doug Wold
1985-86 George Dalthorp
1986-87 Terry Trieweiler
1987-88 John Warner
1988-89 Max Hansen
1989-90 Gary Spaeth
1990-91 Damon Gannett
1991-92 Jim Johnson
1992-93 Sherry Matteucci
1993-94 Bob Carlson
1994-95 Bob Phillips
1995-96 Gary Day
1996-97 Don MacIntyre
1997-98 Martha Sheehy
1998-99 Brent Cromley
1999-00 Ed Bartlett
2000-01 Molly Shepherd
2001-02 Donald Murray
2002-03 Andrew Suenram
2003-04 Robert Sullivan
2004-05 Keith Maristuen
2005-06 Bernard McCarthy
2006-07 Peggy Probasco
2007-08 John Schulte
2008-09 Chris Tweeten
2009-10 Cynthia Smith
2010-11 Joseph Sullivan
2011-12 Shane Vannatta
2012-13 Pamela Bailey
2013-14 Randall Snyder
2014-15 Mark Parker
2015-16 Matthew Thiel
2016-17 Bruce Spencer
2017-18 Leslie Halligan
2018-19 Eric Nord
2019-20 Juli Pierce
2020-21 Kate McGrath Ellis
2021-22 Brian C. Smith
2022-23 David Steele
2023-24 J. Stuart Segrest
2024-25 Antoinette Tease

Professional Staff

Executive Team

Executive Directory & General Counsel John Mudd (406) 442-7660
Deputy Director & Assistant General Counsel, Lawyer Assistance Program Coordinator Mike Larson (406) 447-2202
Associate General Counsel & Equal Justice Coordinator Ann Goldes-Sheahan (406) 447-2201
Executive Assistant & Governance Coordinator Jill Diveley (406) 447-2211
Director of Finance & Operations Jill Lloyd (406) 447-2214

Membership

Director of Member Programming and Events Jeannie Etchart (406) 442-7660
Program Assistant - Fee Abritration, Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, Licensed Lawyer Ann Goldes-Sheahan (406) 447-2201
Legal Assistant Regina Mercado (406) 447-2204
Program Assistant Errol Koch (406) 447-2208

CLE Compliance & Regulation

Director of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulatory Compliance Jennifer Rickman (406) 442-7660
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Compliance & Regulation Coordinator Bettina Naylor (406) 447-2219
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Compliance & Regulation Program Assistant Holly Bixby (406) 447-2209

Admissions

Admissions Administrator - Bar Exam/Pro Hac Vice Kathie Lynch (406) 447-2210
Admissions Assistant Melissa Hartze