Montana Supreme Court Justice #1

Veteran Justice Rice Seeks A Fourth Term; Challenger D’alton Vows To Serve Just One

By KEELY LARSON Community News Service UM School of Journalism

One Montana Supreme Court contest is getting the most attention – and the most campaign cash – but there’s another race on the ballot, too.

That race pits Justice Jim Rice, the longest-serving justice on the Supreme Court, against Bill D’Alton, a Billings attorney who has pledged to serve only one term and hasn’t raised a penny for his campaign.

Rice won the nonpartisan primary with 78% of the vote to D’Alton’s 28%. Both advanced to the November election. According to the most recent filings, Rice has raised about $39,000 in donations.

That’s in stark contrast to the almost $...