Chief Justice Race Pits Two Views of The High Court Against One Another

By Emma White Community News Service UM School of Journalism Neither of the candidates for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court thought they were destined for the highest court in the state. Instead, Jerry Lynch and Cory Swanson both say they decided to run because they saw the need for a candidate who offered a different judicial philosophy to the ones on the ballot.

The campaign has come to symbolize the state of the judiciary in Montana – is it a vital, independent branch that is under assault from the legislative and executive branch or is it an activist group undermining the work of elected officials in the state?

For Broadwater County Attorney Corey Swanson that means he wants to change to court to be less “activist” than it has been.

Swanson, 47, grew up in Montana and earned his law degree from the University of Montana. He is also a colonel in the National Guard with 27 years of service.

“I have pretty extensive experience leading large organizations in the military,” Swanson said, “and the leadership function of the Chief Justice requires a lot of work with a lot of people, and it requires not ordering them around, but really cooperation and convincing them to work together towards common good.”

After law school, Swanson becam...